A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP

COURSE DATES: Meets Tuesday Nights 7-9pm,
September 6 – October 18, 2022

IN SEVEN WEEKS

HURRY! EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT ENDS ON 8/30

A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP

IN SEVEN WEEKS

COURSE DATES: Tuesdays 7-9pm EST 9/6/22 – 10/18/22 + optional Office Hours

Feel Calmer

Train your mind to automatically lower stress and bounce over setbacks

Become Better partners

Learn the #1 reason relationships struggle

Transform Conflict

Discover the powerful tool that can transform conflict into connection

Communicate Courageously

Practice speaking from your heart and being less guarded

Feel Calmer

Train your mind to automatically lower stress and bounce over setbacks

Become Better partners

Learn the #1 reason relationships struggle

Transform Conflict

Discover the powerful tool that can transform conflict into connection

Communicate Courageously

Practice speaking from your heart and being less guarded

A Toolkit for a STRONGER RELATIONSHIP in 7 Weeks

A Toolkit for a STRONGER RELATIONSHIP in 7 Weeks

HURRY! EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT ENDS ON 8/30

Upcoming Course Dates

Meets Tuesday Nights 7-9pm EST, September 6 – October 18, 2022 + optional Office Hours every Thursday 4:15-5:15pm EST

Course Structure: Two-hour Live Webinar Each Week + 15 Homework Lessons

Each lesson contains a chapter of instruction, a video animation to described the main concepts, reflection questions, and a 20-minuted guided meditation that’s tailored to the concepts introduced in the lesson.  

NOTE: Full access to the curriculum previewed below is immediately available after purchase, with lifetime access.   

A 165-page, spiral-bound workbook is available for order, or simply print out the PDF lessons in the online multi-media course. 

Listen to this recording of Keith’s live teaching during one of the Mindful Marriage webinars about how Mindful Marriage is radically different form traditional tools for couples. 

7 Weeks of Live Class Webinars

Below is an outline of the class themes for each week.

"A huge toolkit for your marriage."

- Laura T.
ENROLL NOW
INTRODUCTION: Why are we fighting?

By using a growth mindset with your relationship, this course will help you clean up attitudes and behaviors that otherwise predict separation and divorce. 

Mindful Marriage is a unique curriculum that teaches meditation and mindfulness skills you can use to reduce negativity in your relationship and create the right conditions for growth and healing. According to a large body of scientific research, the exercises you’ll be doing every day in this course will literally change the physical structures in your brain.

Using mindfulness—a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations—you’re far more likely to be successful in getting off the merry-go-round of negativity than if you use just willpower.

You’ll learn how to use  Care, Openness, Love, and Acceptance (C.O.L.A.) to transform negative emotions into productive ones. 

WEEK 1: Mindfulness 101 – Body Focus

When we practice mindfulness, we focus on what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. The result is a spontaneous feeling of calm and heightened sense of awareness that you are more than just your mind and body. 

Several studies have found that mindfulness increases positive emotions while reducing negative emotions and stress. Others show that it increases density of gray matter in brain regions linked to learning, memory, emotion regulation, creativity, problem-solving, and empathy.

You are more than your thoughts, feelings and beliefs. In week one you learn a tool called the You-Turn, a differentiation skill that reliably stabilizes conflict by removing the projection of emotions onto your partner that occurs when you’re stressed or hurt.

WEEK 1: Mindfulness 101 – Body Focus

You are more than your thoughts, feelings and beliefs. In week one you learn a tool called the You-Turn, a differentiation skill that reliably stabilizes conflict by removing the projection of emotions onto your partner that occurs when you’re stressed or hurt.

When we practice mindfulness, we focus on what we’re sensing in the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future. The result is a spontaneous feeling of calm and heightened sense of awareness that you are more than just your mind and body. 

Several studies have found that mindfulness increases positive emotions while reducing negative emotions and stress. Others show that it increases density of gray matter in brain regions linked to learning, memory, emotion regulation, creativity, problem-solving, and empathy.

WEEK 2: Banishing Blame and Criticism

Learn how to reliably feel more centered and calm. You can think and feel at the same time. You have room to consider your own feelings and the feelings of others.

When you’re driving in your car, making a U-turn at a dead-end road is an essential skill. Just imagine the absurdity of stubbornly refusing to turn around on a road that’s blocked by an accident or some other obstacle. No one really does that, right?

But somehow in our intimate relationships we believe that we have to draw a line in the sand and stand up to our partner when we hit a roadblock to getting our needs met. Rather than getting nimble and finding a new way to work together, we dig in our heels and try to coerce, cajole, convince, or maybe just out-cry or out-yell our partner when we want cooperation. Do these methods work?

Negativity almost always elicits some kind of reaction. But it’s almost guaranteed to be negative, and it’s never the kind of authentic, open-hearted attention we crave. 

WEEK 3: Staying Centered When Your Partner is Off-Balance

Even in a healthy relationship, all it takes is one look from your partner to trigger a full-scale fight/flight/freeze response. Authentic intimacy with your partner requires you know how to prevent this or limit this so-called “lizard brain” from running your life and ruining your relationship. 

The You-Turn helps you do this by short-circuiting the stress feedback loop that occurs when you misguidedly think that changing your partner will make you feel better. 

When your brain is stressed, it biases sensory input from the outside toward fear and self-protection. You’ll be learning how to tune into your body to allow your full emotional intelligence to emerge during hard conversations.  

WEEK 3: Staying Centered When Your Partner is Off-Balance

When your brain is stressed, it biases sensory input from the outside toward fear and self-protection. You’ll be learning how to tune into your body to allow your full emotional intelligence to emerge during hard conversations.  

Even in a healthy relationship, all it takes is one look from your partner to trigger a full-scale fight/flight/freeze response. Authentic intimacy with your partner requires you know how to prevent this or limit this so-called “lizard brain” from running your life and ruining your relationship. 

The You-Turn helps you do this by short-circuiting the stress feedback loop that occurs when you misguidedly think that changing your partner will make you feel better. 

WEEK 4: Building Emotional Intelligence

Learning basic emotional intelligence skills gives you the ability to care for and speak from your heart instead of panicking or collapsing during hard conversations. 

Everyone knows that if you expand your verbal vocabulary, you improve your reading comprehension. The same is true with your ability to “read” emotions in people when your emotional vocabulary grows. This is called emotional intelligence.

When you know the difference between primary and secondary emotions, which you’ll become familiar with by taking this course, you’ll understand why having a deeper physical connection to your emotions, in your body, can move mountains between you and the one you love.

WEEK 5: Pursuing and Withdrawing – Identifying Your Protective Responses

A good question to ask to determine what protective attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors you have is to ask “What do I usually do when I’m stressed, irritated or scared?”

The usual answers typically fall into two categories: Pursue or Withdraw.

This course offers you a structured path to compassionately explore and befriend the parts of you that protect you, so they may relax and let you lead and allow more vulnerability to be seen by your partner.

 

Who are you in conflict? We are so used to our own mental habits and behaviors that reflecting this can be like a fish that doesn’t notice the water. 

WEEK 5: Pursuing and Withdrawing – Identifying Your Protective Responses

Who are you in conflict? We are so used to our own mental habits and behaviors that reflecting this can be like a fish that doesn’t notice the water. 

A good question to ask to determine what protective attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors you have is to ask “What do I usually do when I’m stressed, irritated or scared?”

The usual answers typically fall into two categories: Pursue or Withdraw.

This course offers you a structured path to compassionately explore and befriend the parts of you that protect you, so they may relax and let you lead and allow more vulnerability to be seen by your partner.

 
WEEK 6: Disarming Hostility With Empathy

Empathy is nearly impossible when you are stressed or hurt. That’s why this course helps you build a strong foundation of compassionate and attentive connection to your body and your inner life of thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.

When you feel centered, confident and calm it’s far more easy to let yourself be transported into the world of another.

You’ll learn: 

  1. The three active ingredients in listening that convey empathy.
  2. How to use an active listening skill called dialogue that prevents hurt feelings and misunderstanding.
  3. How to engage imagination to power your conversations

Most important, you’ll understand why someone has to take responsibility for listening. Structure creates safety, which creates connection. 

WEEK 7: Pleasure, Play, Joy, and Fun
What caring behaviors have you stopped doing in your relationship that were once automatic? Fixing her coffee the way she likes it. Calling his Mom just to say hello.
 
You’ll be asked to slow down and appreciate the small joys that are all around you every day and to start rituals that let you savor small joys in everyday moments. 

Habits that cultivate appreciation and pleasure in everyday moments are vital for joy and fun in your relationship.

WEEK 7: Pleasure, Play, Joy, and Fun

Habits that cultivate appreciation and pleasure in everyday moments are vital for joy and fun in your relationship.

What caring behaviors have you stopped doing in your relationship that were once automatic? Fixing her coffee the way she likes it. Calling his Mom just to say hello.
 
You’ll be asked to slow down and appreciate the small joys that are all around you every day and to start rituals that let you savor small joys in everyday moments. 

Listen to Past Students Share Their Experience

Benefits of Mindful Marriage 7-Week Immersive Course

  • Connection From the Inside-Out

Learn body-centered emotional intelligence skills to widen your tolerance for distress so you are consistently less reactive, more centered and clear during important moments with your partner.

 
  • Proven Benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Access multi-media homework modules and 165-page training manual that gives you a library of 20-minute meditations designed to reduce relationship stress.
  • Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS) Work
Practice introductory steps of IFS “parts work” to develop a loving and compassionate relationship with protective parts of you that take charge of getting your needs met but are often met met with resistance, criticism, or avoidance.

Connection From the Inside-Out

Learn body-centered emotional intelligence skills to widen your tolerance for distress so you are consistently less reactive, more centered and clear during important moments with your partner.

Proven Benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Access multi-media homework modules and 165-page training manual that gives you a library of 20-minute meditations designed to reduce relationship stress.

Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS) Work

Practice introductory steps of IFS “parts work” to develop a loving and compassionate relationship with protective parts of you that take charge of getting your needs met but are often met met with resistance, criticism, or avoidance.

experts say

“Keith Miller presents a clear and practical guide for couples while integrating elements of the most popular and powerful approaches: mindfulness,
neurobiology, and the Internal Family Systems model.”

Richard Schwartz, PhD.

Harvard Professor of Psychiatry and Founder of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) evidenced-based psychotherapy model.

“Mindful Marriage is an essential skill-builder in the tool box for couples devoted to a better love life. This program teaches you to calm your mind and clean up your thoughts,
enabling a more loving framework for everyday interactions.”

Kathy McMahon, PsyD.

President of Couples Therapy Inc.

About the Author of Mindful Marriage

Keith Miller is a licensed clinical social worker and director of Keith Miller Counseling, a private counseling practice that specializes in relationships, treating stress and anxiety, and general behavioral health. His first book, Love Under Repair: How to Save Your Marriage and Survive Couples Therapywon the Reader’s Favorite Award for non-fiction in 2015. He is the host of The Soul of Life podcast and has spoken across U.S. on the subject of interpersonal neurobiology, mindfulness, and stress-reduction for couples. He lives in Maryland with his wife of 20 years, and two children.

Keith Miller, LICSW

About the Author of Mindful Marriage

Keith Miller is a licensed clinical social worker and director of Keith Miller Counseling, a private counseling practice that specializes in relationships, treating stress and anxiety, and general behavioral health. His first book, Love Under Repair: How to Save Your Marriage and Survive Couples Therapywon the Reader’s Favorite Award for non-fiction in 2015. He is the host of The Soul of Life podcast and has spoken across U.S. on the subject of interpersonal neurobiology, mindfulness, and stress-reduction for couples. He lives in Maryland with his wife of 20 years, and two children.

Keith Miller, LICSW

Frequently Asked Questions

All of the group meetings are recorded and posted to the private community space that’s only accessible to your class cohort. The Weekly Office Hours are not recorded. 

Most of the 2-hour class meetings will be Keith’s teaching about that week’s concepts. You’ll be asked to shut off your camera during exercise or discussion breaks to interact with your partner. There will be several opportunities each week for you to speak for your reaction to the concepts or exercises, or ask questions, in front of the group. Speaking for your experience can be a key to learning and everyone is encouraged to participate as much as possible. No one is ever put on the spot to share information about themselves they don’t want to share with the rest of the group. Short and structured breakout discussion rooms are a part of most classes, where you’ll be paired with one or two other couples in the course. This is optional but highly encouraged and one of the highest-rated elements of the course from graduates). 

It’s best if you’re in same room as your partner and on-screen as much as possible. Of course if you are geographically separated, being on two separate cameras is no problem.

I’d like this group to resemble an in-person meeting as much as possible and it makes a HUGE difference to me as your teacher and to see each other’s faces and feel the energy of the group. Talk to me ahead of time if you have concerns about this. There will be times when I ask everyone to shut off their cameras and mute themselves so that you can complete an assignment or discussion with your partner. If you have to take care of a personal matter or tend to children during the meeting, it’s no problem to turn off your camera, but otherwise I’d ask for everyone to participate and be a full part of the group, on camera.

Participating in the private Facebook Group that’s exclusively for the participants of your live course is highly encouraged, but is not necessary, unless you want to access a replay of a class that you missed. Working through the concepts and exercises in this course can be REALLY challenging. I encourage you to use the private forum to get to know each other and learn from each other’s wisdom and sharing about where you’re getting stuck and where you’re making strides. A central concept in the course is “speaking for your parts,” and learning to separate your own feelings from your automatic assumptions (projections) about your partner. The form is NOT a place to voice frustrations with your partner or speak for your partner. I’ll help make this distinction clear and offer guidance.

You have lifetime access to log in to the Mindful Marriage online course material.

Yes. A little secret behind Mindful Marriage is that it was designed specifically to be done solo. The fact that partners take the course together in my live teaching of this course is a huge bonus. This is one of the few relationship enrichment programs that asks people to seriously focus on and improve their relationship with parts of themselves before trying to improve their relationship to their partner.   

IFS stands for Internal Family Systems, a popular evidence-based psychotherapy and spiritual tool that views the mind as naturally multiple and uses compassionate exploration of parts of you to befriend rather than berate or exile some of the most perplexing or difficult emotional states that many of us have learned to feel shame and fear toward.

Mindful Marriage does not explicitly teach IFS but is strongly influenced by it and can be seen as an introduction to basic IFS concepts such as Parts, Self, Protectors, Exiles, and the You-Turn concept, which was first introduced to me by IFS founder Richard Schwartz and IFS Lead Trainer Toni Herbine-Blank.   

No. Mindful Marriage was designed for people new to mindfulness and/or meditation. However many lifelong meditators have found the meditations in this course to be novel and helpful to deal with emotional states that traditional meditation does not address.

UPCOMING COURSE DATES: COURSE DATES: Tuesday Nights 7-9pm EST, September 6 – October 18, 2022 + Optional Office Hours Thursdays 4:15-5:15pm EST

"A totally transformative experience for our relationship..."

- Greg. R.
REGISTER NOW

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Looking for my IFS Level I Prep Course for professional counselors or coaches? Learn more here

Want to quickly learn the basics of Internal Family Systems (IFS)? Take my free Quickstart Guide to IFS in 30-Minutes Webinar

Just want to learn How to Resolve Any Communication Issue? Take my free 30-minute webinar and get results today.

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