When is the Line Crossed in Marriage? From Difficult to Destructive

Course overview

Research indicates that approximately one in four Christian women report being in a destructive or abusive relationship, yet many licensed mental health professionals, medical personnel, and ministry leaders receive little to no formal training in recognizing or addressing destructive or abusive marriages. Helping professionals are frequently tasked with assessing "what's wrong" in a marriage, but inaccurate assessments can lead to ineffective or even harmful interventions. Proper discernment is essential to ensure the safety, well-being, and sanity of individuals while respecting the value of marriage. This workshop provides participants with practical, evidence-informed approaches for distinguishing between challenging and destructive marital dynamics, identifying patterns of abuse, and determining when traditional marital counseling is inappropriate for the couple. Participants will utilize strategies for assessing the willingness of partners to engage in meaningful change, prioritize safety, and support repair, using tools such as appreciative inquiry to guide ethical and effective interventions.