by Lindsie Wagner
The Health and Counseling Center is once again hosting its traditional spring group for engaged couples, but this year the counseling staff has added a twist.
“We have an intern this year, Robi Fairbanks, who wanted to take the lead on this group,” director of counseling services Janelle Thayer said.
Fairbanks, a Gonzaga University graduate student pursuing her Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling, will be supervised by Thayer.
Taking the lead on the group, Fairbanks made a few changes to this annual program. First, Fairbanks chose to open the group to not only engaged students, but also to those seriously dating.
Fairbanks also chose a new text for the group, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. John Gottman, the author of the book, has a 94% accuracy rate in determining which couples will get a divorce, Thayer said.
Although the group has changed over time, Thayer says the need for it has stayed the same.
“We do groups on an as needed basis,” Thayer said. “If we have a lot of students who have lost parents, we will start a grief group. If we have a bunch of freshmen who come whose parents are having marital problems, we’ll start a group. So many people get engaged by spring, that [an engaged couple’s group] was needed.”
Thayer estimates seven couples are currently attending the group. Although the group is now closed, Thayer says students may still elect to have one-on-one sessions with Fairbanks and follow the book.