You’ve heard what pastors say: that marriage is a sacred, glorious picture of Christ’s sacrificial love for the Church (Eph 5). You long for the deep unity described in Genesis 2, when a husband leaves his father and mother to “become one flesh” with his wife. But the reality is that marriage is hard. It’s full of conflict and struggle. No wonder so many couples start out madly in love but still end up divorced. How can you and your partner experience the beauty of marriage that God intended?
This May, join us in Albany, CA for a weekend intensive to strengthen your marriage survival skills together!
While we did pre-marital counseling with a pastor at church and watched/discussed a 4-part video series on marriage…this is the first “marriage education” we’ve done since actually getting married and moving in together. It’s been hugely valuable and helpful…. We will definitely recommend this course to other couples.
– Anonymous
About the Intensive
In this 2-day marriage intensive, you will learn…
- Challenges every marriage must overcome in order to thrive
- Detours and dangers that kill marriages
- How to handle conflict skillfully
- Why you hurt the person you love and what you can do about it
- What to do when your partner is overwhelmed
- How to protect and strengthen your intimacy
You’ll also have plenty of time to practice the skills together as a couple, with coaching as needed. This course is perfect for newlyweds and other married couples who want to strengthen their relationship and build healthy patterns together. Space is limited, so sign up soon!
The skills and practice in listening and speaking was helpful in guiding us to openly talk about our feelings with our spouse, in a safe manner. I recommend this to married couples, especially those that want to improve in communication.
– Anonymous
When:
This marriage intensive will be presented across two days.
- Day 1 – Saturday, May 20, 2023, 9:00am – 5:30pm Pacific Time
- Day 2 – Sunday, May 21, 2023, 1:30pm – 5:30pm Pacific Time
Where:
1319 Solano Ave
Albany, CA 94706
Format:
Alternates between teaching sessions (group class) and couple practice time (just you and your partner, with the option for coaching).
Cost:
- $300 per couple for Super Early Bird Registration (until Tuesday, 3/21/2023)
- $330 per couple for Early Bird Registration (until Friday, 4/21/2023)
- $375 per couple for Regular Registration (until Friday, 5/12/2023)
- Ask about our discount for couples in full-time Christian ministry and for alumni of previous trainings
Please note that this course is designed for both partners to participate together.
To Register:
Contact Joy at 510-999-6380 or livedeeplylovedeeply@gmail.com
Registration closes Friday, May 12, 2023.
As it’s often said in sports, “defense wins championships.” If you can spot problems earlier and have the self-awareness to recognize them then you can start to work on them. The tips they’ve compiled to help married couples can help defend against a marriage breaking apart.
– PBQ
About the Instructors
Esther I. Wei, LMFT
Esther I. Wei is a Christian Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #78450) with a private practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. She focuses on treating individuals and couples to improve their relationships and to facilitate trauma recovery. Esther graduated from the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy under Ellyn Bader Ph.D. at The Couples Institute. She integrates trauma-informed approaches to healing as an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) Certified Therapist, a TIST (Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment) Certified Therapist, and as a Certified HeartSync Minister. Esther also provides member care services for missionaries through GoLiveServe.org (Mountain View, CA) and is affiliated with the House of Hope Healing Center (Fremont, CA). She received an M.A. MFT with highest honors and Addiction Studies Certificate from Western Seminary in 2008. Esther’s varied professional experience includes architectural engineering, corporate event planning, and nonprofit management. As a second-generation Taiwanese-American, Esther was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up in Livermore, CA. Esther has been happily married to Charles since 2005.
Joy Wong Liu, LMFT
Also a Christian Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Joy Wong Liu (LMFT #53681) loves to help others grow more deeply into God’s love. She met her husband Anthony in graduate school at Western Seminary, and the two share a private practice in Berkeley, California. Joy has completed training in Levels 1 and 2 Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Prepare-Enrich, EMDR, as well as the Therapeutic Spiral Model, a clinical form of psychodrama for the treatment of trauma. A drama major at Stanford University, Joy enjoys leading drama therapy groups. She also has led mental health workshops for local counseling centers and church groups, including the Bay Area Sunday School Convention.
Esther and Joy have been collaborating on a graphic novel marriage handbook since 2018. This workshop is a synthesis of some of the key concepts from their shared research and expertise.
[Photo Credit: Swirl of Grace Photography]
The Marriage Intensive was highly beneficial for understanding the different aspects of marriage with a background in Christianity. The various discussion points were applicable to all stages of marriages and backgrounds. A++
– Anonymous