Family Institute Events

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services' Family Institute facilitates lecture, training and certification programs for agencies, people, and churches. These programs help them work more effectively with families and couples, and include the Marriage and Family Building Series, FOCCUS Training, and Family Wellness Training.  The Family Institute also collaborates with other local organizations to bring skill-building and training, plus education programs to the community, such as Secrets for Successful Marriage and the Grand Rapids Christian Parenting Conference.

Upcoming Lectures and Certifications

January 10, 17
Secrets for Successful Marriage
Secrets for Successful Marriage is taught by experienced marriage professionals and is for couples who want to grow their relationship in preparation for marriage. It teaches couples healthy relationship skills that will benefit them throughout their lives together. Because it is skill based, Secrets for Successful Marriage is a valuable addition to traditional pastoral or professional premarital counseling. In addition, couples take the online FOCCUS Inventory, designed to help them identify relationship strengths and potential areas of growth. The workshop instructor interprets the results of the inventory in a group setting. Individualized follow up is available for an additional cost.

After attending Secrets for Successful Marriage, couples will know how to:

• discover their relationship expectations
• recognize family background influences
• improve their communication skills
• resolve conflict more effectively
• manage their finances
• enhance intimacy in their marriage
• commit to each other for life

March 7, 14
Secrets for Successful Marriage
Secrets for Successful Marriage is taught by experienced marriage professionals and is for couples who want to grow their relationship in preparation for marriage. It teaches couples healthy relationship skills that will benefit them throughout their lives together. Because it is skill based, Secrets for Successful Marriage is a valuable addition to traditional pastoral or professional premarital counseling. In addition, couples take the online FOCCUS Inventory, designed to help them identify relationship strengths and potential areas of growth. The workshop instructor interprets the results of the inventory in a group setting. Individualized follow up is available for an additional cost.

After attending Secrets for Successful Marriage, couples will know how to:

• discover their relationship expectations
• recognize family background influences
• improve their communication skills
• resolve conflict more effectively
• manage their finances
• enhance intimacy in their marriage
• commit to each other for life

April 18, 25
Secrets for Successful Marriage
Secrets for Successful Marriage is taught by experienced marriage professionals and is for couples who want to grow their relationship in preparation for marriage. It teaches couples healthy relationship skills that will benefit them throughout their lives together. Because it is skill based, Secrets for Successful Marriage is a valuable addition to traditional pastoral or professional premarital counseling. In addition, couples take the online FOCCUS Inventory, designed to help them identify relationship strengths and potential areas of growth. The workshop instructor interprets the results of the inventory in a group setting. Individualized follow up is available for an additional cost.

After attending Secrets for Successful Marriage, couples will know how to:

• discover their relationship expectations
• recognize family background influences
• improve their communication skills
• resolve conflict more effectively
• manage their finances
• enhance intimacy in their marriage
• commit to each other for life

June 6, 13
Secrets for Successful Marriage
Secrets for Successful Marriage is taught by experienced marriage professionals and is for couples who want to grow their relationship in preparation for marriage. It teaches couples healthy relationship skills that will benefit them throughout their lives together. Because it is skill based, Secrets for Successful Marriage is a valuable addition to traditional pastoral or professional premarital counseling. In addition, couples take the online FOCCUS Inventory, designed to help them identify relationship strengths and potential areas of growth. The workshop instructor interprets the results of the inventory in a group setting. Individualized follow up is available for an additional cost.

After attending Secrets for Successful Marriage, couples will know how to:

• discover their relationship expectations
• recognize family background influences
• improve their communication skills
• resolve conflict more effectively
• manage their finances
• enhance intimacy in their marriage
• commit to each other for life

Ongoing Workshop

Every other Thursday beginning October 11, 2007 Pine Rest Family Institute hosts “The Third Option Marriage Program,” 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church, 6595 Cascade Rd SE, Grand Rapids. Child care is available. Couples may join in the sessions at any time and the sessions are free of charge. For additional information, call the Pine Rest Family Institute, 616/222-4592.

Program Outline
The Third Option is an ongoing group program to build better marriages. It is designed for all married couples and can be used both as marriage enrichment or crisis intervention. For hurting couples who see only two options (painful endurance or divorce), the Third Option means reconciliation. For ordinary couples, the program teaches them the skills they need to have happier, healthier marriages.

The Third Option combines skill-building workshops with sharing from mentor couples and a support group component. Sessions are led by skilled facilitators and by couples who have overcome serious issues in their marriages.