The Couples Enhancement Workshop: A Brief Approach for Group Work With Couples

Abstract

The Couples Enhancement Workshop (CEW) offers a unique time-limited, group-oriented approach to strength building and relationship enhancement. The need for enhancement practices is established, followed by a review of the theoretical influences of the CEW. This includes a review of the Relationship Conflict andRestoration Model, the concept of relational grace, and narrative therapeutic principles. The CEW is then outlined in detail followed by a review of application, and research considerations are discussed.

Occasions, motivations and expressions of grace at work

“…In a different contextmarriagesrelational conflict, if handled poorly, can lead to adverse outcomes. The distress can emerge from a particular topic about which the individuals disagree, from the conflict history between the individuals, or from family of origin and transference to the focal relationship (Beckenbach et al, 2010(Beckenbach et al, , 2014. This gave rise to our first research question, as outlined above.…”