1. Karlie Parry
February 28, 2009
Capella University
HS5271 – Marriage and Family Systems
Dr. Melissa Lang

2. 40%-60% Family of Previous
Origin Experience
Divorce
Sex
Work
Children
Demands • Premarital
• Involuntary
Religion
Cohabitation

3. 1. Security and Community
2. Awareness of Relationship
3. Improve
Communication, Handle
Conflict, and Build Intimacy
4. Plan for Growth
5. Celebrate and Closure

4. Kindness and Flexibility
The RELATE is a 271-
item questionnaire
designed to
evaluate the
relationship
between
romantically linked
couples
(Busby, Ivey, Harris,
& Ates, 2007)

5. Determined by Facilitator
Workshop adapted based on
age, religion, ethnicity, culture
Recruited through different
means based on type of
participants

6. Initial Introduction
Breakfast RELATE Questionnaire
Activities
Grocery
Caring for Kids In-Laws Making Lunch Sex & Intimacy
Shopping
Conclusion
Communication Relationship Strengths Relationship Weaknesses

7. Breakfast

◦ Provide a continental breakfast in a room where
couples can mingle
RELATE questionnaire

◦ Provide a room where couples are able to use the
computer to complete the questionnaire
◦ Print out the results and discuss with couple as time
allows

8. Preparation

◦ Create a store with food items (real or fake) and the
prices
Give couple $100 budget

◦ Allow couple 45 minutes to plan and shop for a
weeks worth of meals
Present couple with the financial snapshot

and budget worksheets (Appendices A-D)
◦ Answer any questions

9. Preparation

◦ Couples and/or facilitators with children are asked
to bring them to the workshop
◦ Must have extra person to watch children during
first and final hour of workshop
Couples care for and entertain children

◦ Discuss parenting styles (Appendices E-F)
◦ Provide parenting resources

10. Preparation

◦ Pre-recorded scenarios of family get-togethers or
traditions
◦ Players and headsets
Individuals listen a taped scenario of a get-

together or tradition as if it were the
significant other’s family inviting
◦ Significant other listens to a scenario that occurs
simultaneously
Couples discuss how to handle conflicting

get-togethers or traditions (Appendix G)

11. Preparation

◦ Location to cook
◦ Recipe
◦ Ingredients
Couples will make a meal following a recipe

as well as clean up after the meal
◦ Household duties/chores (Appendix H)
◦ Communication styles (Appendix I)
◦ Lunch 

12. Preparation

◦ Tables and chairs set in private, intimate settings
◦ Candles or lamps
Scenarios

◦ Based on participants, present scenario that will
initiate a discussion about sex, intimacy, and family
planning (appendix J)
◦ Birth Control Pamphlets
◦ Sex Education Information

13. Speaker

Discuss communication styles
◦
Marriage threats (appendix K)
◦
Strengths (appendix L)
◦
Weakness
◦
Skills, tools, or techniques
◦
Reiterate resource options (have pamphlets
◦
available for further resources such as individual or
couples counseling)
◦ Remain after for questions and create referrals as
needed (end of workshop evaluation)