As a licensed marriage and therapist, I have seen first-hand that divorce and distressed marriages in the Jewish community are on the rise. For many years I have also wondered if we are doing enough to prepare couples for marriage and continue to help married couples achieve the happiness they deserve? As the saying goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
I believe that a new online program to become an accredited Viktor Frankl Marriage and Intimacy Coach starting on May 12 can make a difference. Separate men’s and women’s tracks will be offered.
On this new and exciting program you can train to become a marriage mentor to teach couples how to communicate effectively, develop their relationship skills, and work through any problems they may experience during shana rishona and beyond. The mentors are also trained when to refer the couples for professional advice.
During this 15-week program beginning May 12, Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, LMFT, who is an innovator in the field of marriage education, counseling and coaching, will teach participants via a live webinar, how to coach couples using the most advanced skills including:
Emotionally Focused Couple Coaching
John Gottman’s “7 Principles to Making Marriage Work”
Logotherapy (Viktor Frankl) for Couples & Intimacy
Advanced Communication Skills (Imago)
5 Love Languages
Learning when to refer to therapists and medical professionals
The program, certified by the International Coaching Federation, will explore theories in marriage and family therapy including: Family Dysfunction and Resilience (Pia Mellody), Attachment Theory, Emotionally-Focused Couple Therapy (Sue Johnson), the meaning of intimacy (Viktor Frankl), dealing with trauma (EMDR), and overcoming substance and Internet addiction. This will enable the coaches to have a comprehensive understanding of family-based issues and to learn techniques and strategies to help couples resolve their issues and access important community resources.
The challenge is that a handful of frum marriage therapists and psychologists are not enough to stem the tide of the problems young couples are facing today. It is apparent that the tasks are so great that we need to train a new generation of coaches and mentors who can expand our community’s resources.
The good news is that we already have the people in place to carry out the mission. There are numerous responsible and knowledgeable individuals, Rabbis/Rebbetzins, Shluchim, Chosson/Kallah teachers, and Shadchanim, who already are approached by couples who need their help. However, many of these individuals don’t have the sophisticated coaching and mentoring skills needed to successfully coach these couples or to know when to refer them to therapists or medical professionals. Without the skills, they can become easily overwhelmed by a couple’s problems, not knowing how to respond.
On the Viktor Frankl Marriage & Intimacy Coaching Program you can help reduce divorce and increase the chances of a successful marriages by learning how to coach couples in all stages of their relationship on how to express their feelings, listen to and understand emotions, create an environment of emotional openness, resolve conflict, and develop greater intimacy. The program also guides coaches how to refer clients who present with addiction, trauma or more serious sexual disorders.
Graduates will continue with year-long supervision with Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, LMFT, where they can share their challenges, learn new techniques, and better serve the couples they are working to help.
The Viktor Frankl Marriage and Intimacy Coaching Program will begin on May 12. For more information and to apply visit www.torahpsychology.org/marriagecoaching or call Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch at 646-428-4723.
