A Sample Course Outline

What's involved in creating a marriage course

FOR COURSES

Lloyd Allen

12/29/20244 min read

photo of white staircase
photo of white staircase

What's involved in a course to fix marriage issues, with pdf showing questionnaire and workbook and practical tips clients can use.

A course designed to help fix marriage issues typically includes the following components:

1. Structure of the Course

  • Modules: Topics addressing core relationship areas such as communication, conflict resolution, emotional intimacy, and trust.

  • Self-paced or Facilitated: Could be self-guided with materials or facilitated by a counselor/coach.

  • Duration: A set timeline (e.g., 4-12 weeks) with weekly lessons and activities.

2. Components of the Course

  • Workbooks & PDFs: Downloadable resources for participants to work on individually or together.

  • Questionnaires: Tools to help identify specific relationship challenges or individual perspectives on the marriage.

  • Videos & Tutorials: Explaining concepts like active listening, managing disagreements, and rebuilding connection.

  • Practical Exercises: Role-playing, journaling, or couple activities to apply new skills.

  • Live Sessions (Optional): Group or one-on-one sessions for personalized guidance.

3. PDF Content

A workbook or questionnaire PDF might include:

  • Assessment Section:

    • "What are our biggest challenges?" (e.g., trust, communication, finances)

    • A scale to measure satisfaction in key areas (1-10 for intimacy, teamwork, shared goals, etc.).

  • Goal-Setting Worksheet:

    • "What do we want to achieve in our marriage?"

  • Conflict Analysis:

    • Questions like, "What patterns do we notice in our arguments?"

  • Exercises:

    • Communication builders: “Share three things you appreciate about your partner.”

    • Rebuilding trust: “Identify and commit to one action daily that builds trust.”

  • Reflection Journal Pages:

    • Daily prompts to track feelings and progress.

  • Practical Tools:

    • Communication scripts, e.g., “I feel [emotion] when [situation] because [reason]. Could we [solution]?”

4. Practical Tips

  • Active Listening: Exercises to ensure each partner feels heard.

  • Apology Frameworks: Steps to genuinely apologize and repair trust.

  • Time Together: Scheduled "date nights" or quality time without distractions.

  • Boundaries & Respect: Guidelines for healthy conflict resolution.

An example PDF, and help designing the questionnaire or workbook sections?

Marriage Improvement Course Workbook

Introduction

This workbook is designed to help you and your partner strengthen your marriage by fostering better communication, rebuilding trust, and reigniting emotional intimacy. Use this resource alongside the course lessons for maximum benefit.

Section 1: Initial Assessment

Marriage Satisfaction Questionnaire

Rate each statement on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = Strongly Disagree, 10 = Strongly Agree):

  1. I feel understood by my partner.

  2. We communicate openly and honestly.

  3. Our relationship feels balanced and fair.

  4. I trust my partner completely.

  5. We support each other’s goals and dreams.

  6. We resolve conflicts in a healthy and respectful way.

  7. I feel emotionally connected to my partner.

  8. We prioritize quality time together.

  9. We share similar values and long-term goals.

  10. I feel satisfied with the level of intimacy in our relationship.

Reflection:

  • Which areas scored the lowest? Discuss with your partner how you both perceive these areas and identify potential causes.

  • Which areas scored the highest? Celebrate your strengths!

Section 2: Goal-Setting Worksheet

Shared Goals Worksheet

  • Our shared vision for our marriage:

    • Example: "We want to communicate better and feel closer emotionally."

  • Short-term goals (1-3 months):

    • Example: "Have one date night each week."

  • Long-term goals (1+ years):

    • Example: "Plan a trip together for our anniversary."

  • Action Steps:

    • Partner 1 will: _________________________________________

    • Partner 2 will: _________________________________________

Section 3: Practical Exercises

Exercise 1: Active Listening Practice

  1. Choose a quiet time to discuss a topic.

  2. One partner speaks for 3 minutes while the other listens without interrupting.

  3. The listener summarizes what they heard (e.g., "I heard you say...").

  4. Switch roles and repeat.

Exercise 2: Trust-Building Activity

  • Identify one action that builds trust (e.g., "Share my schedule for transparency").

  • Commit to doing this action daily for the next week.

Exercise 3: Appreciation Journal

  • Each night, write down three things you appreciate about your partner. Share these with each other weekly.

Section 4: Conflict Resolution Toolkit

Guidelines for Healthy Conflict

  1. Pause Before Reacting: Take deep breaths if emotions run high.

  2. Use "I" Statements: Express feelings without blame (e.g., "I feel hurt when...").

  3. Focus on Solutions: Brainstorm together to resolve the issue.

Conflict Analysis Worksheet

  • Describe the conflict: ________________________________________

  • What triggered it? __________________________________________

  • How did each person feel? ___________________________________

  • What could have been done differently? ________________________

Section 5: Rebuilding Intimacy

Date Night Planner

  • Activity: ________________________________________________

  • Date & Time: ____________________________________________

  • Who will plan: ___________________________________________

Emotional Check-In Questions

Ask each other these questions once a week:

  1. What has been the best part of your week?

  2. Is there anything you’ve been feeling stressed about?

  3. How can I support you better?

Reflection & Progress Tracking

Weekly Progress Tracker

  • Wins This Week:

  • Challenges This Week:

  • Next Week’s Focus: _________________________________________

Closing Note

Remember, progress takes time. Stay patient with yourselves and each other as you work through these exercises. Celebrate small victories and keep communication open!

Additional materials

Marriage Improvement Workbook

Part 1: Questionnaire – Assessing Your Relationship

Section A: Communication

  1. On a scale of 1-10, how well do you feel your partner listens to you?
    (1 = Not at all, 10 = Extremely well)

  2. How often do you and your partner discuss important topics without conflict?

    • Daily

    • Weekly

    • Rarely

    • Never

Section B: Emotional Intimacy 3. How connected do you feel to your partner emotionally? (Scale 1-10)
4. What specific actions from your partner make you feel most loved?

Section C: Conflict Resolution 5. How often do disagreements escalate into arguments?

  • Often

  • Occasionally

  • Rarely

  1. Do you feel conflicts are resolved in a way that satisfies both partners?

    • Yes

    • No

Part 2: Workbook – Practical Exercises

Exercise 1: Appreciation Journal
Each partner writes down three things they appreciate about the other daily for a week. Share your lists at the end of the week.

Exercise 2: Communication Role Play

  1. Choose a topic you often disagree on.

  2. Take turns practicing "active listening" while the other speaks. Use phrases like:

    • "What I hear you saying is..."

    • "That must feel..."

Exercise 3: Rebuilding Trust
List one small action each of you can take daily to build trust. Examples:

  • Partner A: “I will follow through on my promises.”

  • Partner B: “I will avoid criticizing during discussions.”

Exercise 4: Shared Goals Worksheet

  1. What are three goals we have as a couple?

  2. What steps can we take together to achieve each goal?

Would you like me to turn this outline into a full PDF for you? If so, I can design it using headings, sections, and visual aids like tables and charts. Let me know how detailed you’d like it to be!