"Marriage Prepartion Classes" - What exactly do they cover?

[AKA_Monet]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
[B]To all the married peeps (divorced can respond, too):
Did any of you go through these and if so, what did they cover?

Sexuality issues? Money / Financial? Communication Issues?

My husband AND I attended a Marriage Enrichment class. It covered communication techniques, because most of the issues that couples have are communicating, verbally or nonverbally... And it has nothing to do with talking to each other about feelings, ours was more about arguing fairly where there is collaboration, rather than compromise...

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
And do just churches/temples/synagogues offer them, or can you take secular ones too?

Many faith based organizations offer the classes for either already married couples or pre-marriage couples. But the classes are not for marriages in crisis--brink of divorce--like there are divorce papers, they just need a judge's signature... I think most of them follow the "Smartmarriages.com" information... There are many faith-based psychologists/social workers that are involved... And many of the offerings are in states that have "covenent marriage licenses".

Their are two secular ones I have found:

The Gottman Institute and the Beyond Marriages that offer similar courses without involving faiths.

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
Are they worthwhile or kind of a waste of time?
I was just wondering (I'm not getting married anytime soon).

The one my husband and I attend was very good and alot more beneficial than marriage counseling. That was because we saw folks from all walks of life with varying years of marriage: from like 2 weeks to 40 years that were having difficulty... So, for me, I saw that my husband and I weren't alone in our difficulties... We paid $50 for a 2 day course...

Now there are over weekend courses and there are cruises... And there are a whole bunch of stuff out there for couples--already married... There are several books that are written that can be used for study... So it's all a matter of what folks desire, need or are asked to do...

But if there is domestic violence or infidelity going on, these classes will not work... Couples need to attend these courses either right after they are married or a the inkling or spark of a difficulty...

That's my opinion...