The 7 Principles Group for Couples

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

Gottman Program for Couples Who Want a Stronger, More Connected Marriage

You don’t have to be in crisis to invest in your relationship.

Maybe you love each other, but life has gotten busy.

Maybe the conversations that used to feel easy now turn into arguments. Maybe you’re spending more time managing work, kids, schedules, and responsibilities than enjoying each other. 

Or maybe your relationship is doing well—and you simply want to make it even stronger.

You don’t have to wait until your marriage is struggling to get support.

Join Gottman-trained therapist Amy Topelson for a relationship enrichment program designed to help couples strengthen their friendship, improve communication, navigate conflict, and reconnect.

What If You Could Feel More Connected to Your Partner?

When is the last time you made time for yourself, your partner and relationship? With this workshop, you’ll have dedicated time to focus on your relationship that can so easily get pushed to the bottom of the list. Using The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, developed from the research of Drs. John and Julie Gottman, you’ll learn practical relationship skills that you can begin using in your everyday life.

You’ll learn how to:

Communicate in ways that help you feel heard and understood 

Learn strategies for having more productive conversations—even when you don’t see things the same way. 

Navigate conflict differently

Understand common patterns that can leave couples feeling stuck and learn healthier ways to approach disagreements.

Strengthen friendship and emotional connection

Discover why friendship is such an important foundation of a lasting relationship and learn ways to bring more appreciation and connection into everyday life.

Build trust and understanding

Develop a deeper understanding of your partner’s inner world, needs, hopes, and experiences.

Create more closeness and intimacy

Make space for emotional connection and rediscover the qualities that brought you together.

Build a shared vision for your future

Talk intentionally about the life you want to create together and the values that matter most to both of you.

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This Program Is For Couples Who…

Want to be proactive

You don’t need to be having major problems to benefit from relationship education.

Feel like they’ve lost some of their connection.

You love each other, but you feel like roommates living parallel lives rather than romantic partners.

Want better communication.

You want to be able to talk about difficult subjects without every conversation becoming a battle. You keep having the same arguments.You may be looking for a different way to understand and respond to recurring patterns.

Want to invest in their marriage

You believe your relationship is worth making time for and worth investing in. Like a healthy garden that gets tended to, a healthy and happy marriage takes work and commitment! Without nurturing and tending, time and effort, a marriage can grow unwanted weeds, wither and die.

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What Makes This Program Different?

This isn’t about sitting in a room and being told what’s wrong with your relationship. 

It’s an opportunity to learn together, practice together, and intentionally invest in your relationship.

The program combines education, guided couples exercises, discussion, and practical tools based on the Gottman approach.

You’ll have the opportunity to take what you learn each week and bring it into your life at home.

Led by a Gottman-Trained Couples Therapist

Amy Topelson, MA, LPC is a couples and family therapist who specializes in helping couples improve communication, reconnect, and strengthen their relationships. 

As a Gottman-trained therapist, Amy brings the Gottman research and relationship principles into an approachable, practical format designed for couples who want to be intentional about their relationship.

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What You’ll Receive

Your registration includes:

• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work book
• Companion workbook
• Gottman relationship card deck materials
• Guided couples exercises
• Take-home relationship activities and resources

Program Details

This program can be done either by attending an 8-week couples skills group or by attending a one day workshop. Please contact us for details about upcoming trainings. We offer both in-person or virtual workshops so that you can choose the format that best suits your needs.

Investment

We have two program options to choose from:

8-weeks of 90 minutes sessions workshop: $770 includes all Gottman materials

This option is great for couples who want to space out their learning over time to really digest the the wisdom and tools that are taught. 

One-day 4 hour workshop: $290 includes all materials and light snacks/beverages

This options is perfect for busy couples who may not be able to devote 8 consecutive weeks to a the workshop but can get a condensed version of the wisdom and tools in a one half-day.

This is an investment in you, your partner and your relationship that will add tremendous value to your marriage. Your marriage will thank you 20 years from now!

Bring 7 Principles to Your Place of Worship!

Do you think your faith-based community could benefit from having a couples retreat? We would love to come to your community and bring the wisdom and tools that are proven to save marriages for either a one or two-day retreat. We also offer pre-marital workshops for faith-based communities. Please reach out to us for more information.

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Is This Couples Therapy?

No.

This is a relationship education and enrichment program, rather than individualized couples counseling.

Because this is a group setting, it may not be appropriate for couples experiencing significant relationship distress, abuse or safety concerns, active addiction, severe mental health concerns, or other circumstances that would be better addressed through individualized therapy.

If you’re uncertain whether this program is right for you, that’s exactly what the intake call is for.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do we need to be married to participate?

No. The program can be valuable for couples at different stages of their relationship, including premarital, newly married, and long-term couples.

Do we have to be experiencing relationship problems?

Absolutely not.

In fact, one of the best times to strengthen your relationship is before you’re in crisis.

What if we have some significant issues in our relationship?

The group is designed for relationship enrichment rather than intensive couples therapy. During your intake call, we’ll talk about whether the program is an appropriate fit for your relationship.

Do both partners need to attend?

Yes. Because the program involves couples exercises and shared learning, both partners are expected to participate.

Is this the same as couples counseling?

No. This is a structured relationship education program using the Gottman Seven Principles curriculum and materials. It is not a substitute for individualized couples therapy.

What should we expect during the sessions?

Each week combines teaching, discussion, and guided exercises that you and your partner can complete together. You’ll also have opportunities to practice skills and continue the work between sessions.

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Your Relationship Is Worth Making Time For

You don’t need to wait for things to get worse. In fact waiting too long could be detrimental.

You don’t need to be in crisis.

Being proactive is the best way to create a positive outcome and prevent years of unhappiness.

Sometimes the most important thing you can do for your marriage is simply make time enrich your relationship!

Join us for eight weeks of learning, practicing, reconnecting, and investing in your relationship.

Ready to Get Started?

Here's how to reserve your spot:

Complete the form below and we’ll contact you to schedule a complimentary 15-minute intake call.

During the call, we’ll answer your questions, talk briefly about what you’re looking for, and determine whether this program is a good fit for you and your partner.

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is a relationship education program based on the work of Drs. John and Julie Gottman. This program is offered by a Gottman-trained therapist and is not a substitute for individualized mental health treatment or couples counseling.