Stages Survey/ Stay Together for the Kids / Fireproof Dilemma - 5/12/09

[Smartmarriages]

- LET'S HELP VALIDATE THE STAGES OF MARRIAGE!
- SHOULD PARENTS STAY TOGETHER FOR THEIR KIDS?  - DOHERTY
- FIREPROOF DILEMMA

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- LET'S HELP VALIDATE THE STAGES OF MARRIAGE!

Rita needs both married and committed couples (engaged or cohabiting) so she
can figure out the differences......

> Dear Diane,
> I am undertaking a validation study for the 7 Stages of Marriage. Please ask
> people on your list who are married or in committed relationships to rate the
> extent to which they agree or disagree with 100 statements.  It takes about 20
> minutes.   
> Rita DeMaria 
> MarriageDoctor at aol.com
> 
> Here is the link:
> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=i8becKTTVrraBx0KLR8GPA_3d_3d

Here is our chance to give back to Rita who has been so generous with the
Smart Marriages community.  She is presenting FIVE times in Orlando
including two Ethics of Marriage Education sessions, a workshop on the 7
Stages of Marriage, a session on Marriage Education and Fatherhood programs,
and a very highly-rated session on Genograms. The rest of the time can be
found at her exhibit where she is tireless and generous in helping others
figure out how to integrate Marriage Education classes in their work.  One
of her most popular prior workshops was "You've got the Courses, Now What?!"
- all about how to integrate Marriage Education into Marriage
Therapy/Counseling/Agency/CHMI work. We need to get her to repeat it at some
future conference, but in the meantime, just stop at her exhibit - she will
answer your questions and give practical advice.   - diane

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- SHOULD PARENTS STAY TOGETHER FOR THEIR KIDS?  - DOHERTY
Here's another winner - a must-watch TV treatment of this most crucial
question. Link it from your site!  http://tinyurl.com/stayingtogether

Don't just read the text on the page, it's not a transcript, you need to
actually watch the TV segment. Brief and Well done!  I've got it linked from
both my WATCH and my BEFORE YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT DIVORCE pages. - diane

Attend Doherty's Marriage Friendly Therapist MASTER SESSION in Orlando:
> 301 - Thurs, July 9, Orlando
> Marriage-Friendly Therapy
> Bill Doherty, PhD
> Marital therapy is a challenge. Learn about the essential skills and values of
> a good marital therapist and about an exciting new resource for locating these
> therapists in your community.

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- FIREPROOF DILEMMA

> Diane-
> Is anyone doing  a "Fireproof" movie or program for non-Christians?
> I found it to be one of the most moving films about marriage but found
> the Christian perspective limiting for my clientele.
> 
> I am a prof. at Columbia University, and a psychotherapist and would
> like to be more involved in using films for therapy and education.
> 
> Sandra Stingle, Ph. D.
> Adj. Asst. Prof. Psychology
> Barnard College, Columbia University

Fireproof IS wonderful. But, I understand your dilemma. When I watched
Fireproof, the first thing I did was call the producers and ask if they
could do a secular version that included the same powerful firemen themes
(firemen keep their life-saving vows and leave no one behind); the message
that friends, colleagues, and family can support marriages in troubled times
(instead of advice to dump the bum and move on); the message that even the
most broken, troubled marriages can heal; and the message that it only takes
one person to hang in and behave their way to success. Screenings across the
country have found that Fireproof works for secular folks and people from
any faith, but I realize at Barnard you'd have a challenge.  A suggestion:
show several marriage films - have your own mini marriage film festival -
and include Fireproof as one to be compared, reviewed, etc. The Christian
aspect to actually minimal - basically two scenes in the park with the cross
behind the father son marriage discussions.  Here are the films scheduled
for the Smart Marriages '09 Film festival in Orlando. All but Fireproof are
secular and all of which I highly recommend to you.   - diane
http://www.smartmarriages.com/film.festival.html