In-person couple retreats thriving in 2025

It’s been a wonderful first half of 2025 for Friends Couple Enrichment -- we’ve already hosted more in-person workshops than we did in all of 2024 and are reveling in the sharing, learning, and renewed connections that are taking place.

The five quick snapshots below highlight the varied ways that Friends Couple Enrichment retreats create the opportunity for people to celebrate their relationships’ joys and strengths, deepen appreciation of each other, and develop skills to deepen and improve their relationships.

📍 Texas Family-Friendly Retreat

In January, Four Quaker-connected couples gathered at Live Oak Meeting in Houston, TX for a weekend retreat -- with the community providing child care and the children joining the adults for several meals at restaurants during the retreat. Kirsten and Andrew led this retreat and took the opportunity to introduce a lively Gottman Dream Jar activity during a compact but meaningful retreat. .

📍 Oklahoma Non-Quaker Weekend Retreat

In March, Kirsten and Andrew also answered the call from a non-Quaker community in Norman, Oklahoma to facilitate a retreat for five couples at a serene retreat center in Seminole Nation territory. Because of the accessibility of nature, they structured the weekend to embrace the labyrinth and nature trails of the area, as well as creating space for deep dialogue and reconnection and taking time to introduce and explore the Quaker practice of settled silence. Throughout the weekend, everyone learned from everyone else. “During one of our first 30-second hugs, a participant called out  “oxytocin!” -- which became our cue throughout the weekend for turning to your partner for a long hug,” said Kirsten. In another unexpected turn of events, one couple opted for private, unwitnessed  dialogue—reminding everyone that FCE thrives on flexibility and compassionate accommodation to everyone who co-creates the experience.

📍 Cozy California Retreat

In April,  three couples from the other Live Oak Friends Meeting -- in Salinas, CA -- joined Jeff and Kathy at their home for a short weekend retreat. Friday evening kicked off with a potluck and photo-sharing from early days of couplehood. Saturday featured playful reframing of accusatory statements into “I” messages and deep, unhurried dialogue time. Though the group was small, participants appreciated its community building aspect. “I’ve known all of you for a long time through the Meeting,” said one person, ”but now I know you in a different way.” The group plans to keep meeting quarterly for ongoing dialogue practice.

📍 New Mexico 1-day Intro Workshop

In May, five couples associated with the Albuquerque Meeting  participated in a one-day introduction to Couple Dialogue led by John and Debbie. The focus of the workshop was on learning and practicing the roles of dialogue--listener, speaker, witness, and the group was engaged enough by this introduction to plan out four additional 2-hour sessions in the weeks following to create more opportunities to practice witnessed dialogue.  The group included a wonderful diversity of ages and length of relationships.  “The energy for deepening their connections is palpable.” said Debbie. “We're excited about expanding a community of couples here in New Mexico.”

📍 North Carolina 1.5 Day Workshop

Six diverse couples gathered for a Friday evening/Saturday gathering in May at the Durham Meeting House -- gay and straight, Quakers and non-Quakers, aged 28 to early 70s, two recently married couples and two couples who are inlaws (introduced to FCE by their children). There was plenty of laughter and warmth as we practiced giving each other gratitudes and being curious about our partners through check-in dialogues. Near the end of the retreat we broke into two groups to allow each couple to experience a rich 15-20 minute witnessed dialogue on a topic of their choosing. One participant, commenting on the analogy of regular couple dialogue and regular yoga practice, said “It is lovely to do both of these things in community, where you feel supported but not judged because everyone is always learning.”

Across all these gatherings, the spiritual foundations of FCE — deep listening, presence, compassion, and joyful learning — truly shone through. Several groups are already forming growth cohorts, and we’re excited to support these ongoing communities of connection.