Marital First Responders Training

Do people confide in you?

Marital First Responders is a training program for natural confidants who want to get better at helping friends and family members who confide in them about relationship problems.

Marital First Responders are people who others open up to about relationship problems. But they are sometimes unsure about how to be helpful, how to avoid taking sides, and how to steer friends and family members to the right resources.

The training will help you be more intentional, confident, and effective when others come to you for support and perspective on relationship struggles, whether it’s the complaints of everyday coupledom or bigger issues like thoughts of divorce.

Training topics include:

• Listening and empathizing without taking sides
• Offering helpful perspectives on relationships
• Keeping good boundaries
• Challenging when needed
• Helping people find the right kind of help

The trainer will be Bill Doherty, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Professor, marriage therapist, long-term Unitarian-Universalist, and co-founder with his daughter Elizabeth Doherty Thomas of The Doherty Relationship Institute. Bill’s research has shown that the great majority of Americans have been confidants on marriage problems, and that friends and family members turn to them first for help.   He has a passion for upgrading the quality of this grass roots support.

A light lunch will be offered with a suggested $5 donation.

To reserve your spot, email Rev. Jen Crow at jen@firstuniv.org.

For more information, visit: www.maritalfirstresponders.com