World Class Marriage (eBook)

Patty Howell, Ed.M., A.G.C., is a nationally-recognized Marriage and Relationship Educator who serves as Vice President of Operations and Media Relations for the California Healthy Marriages Coalition, a pioneering non-profit that works throughout California to increase awareness about Marriage and Relationship Education. A popular public speaker, Patty is the author of the highly-esteemed 'Healthy Marriages' series of booklets, along with many other writings. She was the founding president of Pacific Rim Park, a nonprofit organization that fosters international cooperation and goodwill. Ralph Jones has been a prominent trainer of programs in the Person-Centered Approach for over 30 years. Working with Dr. Thomas Gordon, he oversaw the expansion of Gordon Training programs into a worldwide phenomenon. Ralph has taught hundreds of communication workshops for professionals and lay people around the world and is responsible for the creation of training materials now used on four continents. He currently works with the California Healthy Marriages Coalition.

1 Acknowledgments2 Definition of a World Class Marriage3 Introduction4 The Nature of Marriage5 The Structure of a World Class Marriage6 Diagram of the Structure7 Part One: The Sixteen Pillars of a World Class Marriage8 1. Setting Goals9 2. Avoiding Blame10 3. Understanding the Nature of Behavior11 4. Using Power Listening12 5. Giving up "Tit for Tat"13 6. Assuming Self-Responsibility14 7. Avoiding Cool Talk15 8. Changing Behaviors, Not Your Partner16 9. Knowing When to Surrender17 10. Giving Caring the Way It Matters18 11. Handling Hot Topics19 12. Resolving Conflicts and Disagreements20 13. Giving Apology and Forgiveness21 14. Growing Yourself22 15. Forging a Bond23 16. Nurturing the Honeymoon24 Part Two: Applying the Pillars25 Living Together26 Gay/Lesbian Relationships27 Kids and the Relationship28 Getting Men to Communicate29 Being Yourself in the Relationship30 Concluding Thoughts31 Endnotes32 Bibliography33 Workshops34 About the Authors35 International Editions