Setting the mood ... sophisticated,
vibrant. The party's waiting at Somerset Inn
. Elegant banquet facilities, adding a "touch of
class" to wedding days, rehearsal dinners,
showers, bar mitzvahs, birthdays, and more.
Our friendly Somerset staff can provide
professional assistance from photography and
music to decorations and flowers. Plus much
more.
For intimate yet distinctive gatherings,
Somerset suggests The West End ... available for
private luncheons with a special menu
created for special times.
Come entertain ... Somerset style.

Premarital Help
Prevents Distress

PRISCILLA LISTER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

T

oday, couples many-
ing for the first time
have at least a 50
percent chance of
divorce, according to the Cen-
ter for Marital and Family
Studies at the University of
Denver.
"Premarital patterns, espe-
cially related to communica
tion and conflict management,
can predict divorce with 90
percent accuracy," according
to the center.
But now the good news:
High levels of marital distress
and divorce can be prevented.
How?
Premarital counseling.
Most premarital programs
share similar goals: enhance
communication skills, develop
problem-solving skills, develop
couple intimacy and commit-
ment to the relationship. These
skills can help couples deal
with sexuality, financial man-
agement, marital roles and ex-
pectations and most any
situation a married couple will
surely face.

PREPARATION WORKS
One of the most studied pro-
grams in premarital counseling
is the Prevention and Relation-
ship Enhancement Program,
developed by Drs. Howard
Markman, Scott Stanley, Susan
Blumberg and others at the
University of Denver Center,
using more than 15 years of re-
search in marital health and
success.
These researchers have stud-
ied factors that predict marital
breakdown to focus on "how
to take this information and

teach couples skills and atti-
tudes associated with marital
success."
They developed PREP "to
teach couples how to commu-
nicate effectively, work as a
team to solve problems, man-
age conflicts without damaging
closeness, and preserve and
enhance love, commitment
and friendship."
The divorce/separation rate
five years later for couples who
participated in PREP was sig-
nificantly lower than for cou-
ples who did not participate - 8
percent compared to 19 per-
cent. After 12 years, PREP cou-
ples showed a divorce/sep- _
aration rate of 19 percent
compared to 28 percent for
those who did not participate.
PREP — as well as similar
premarital counseling pro-
grams addresses the three
most important topics that cou-
ples want to learn about: com-
mitment, communication and
conflict management.
Counseling sessions help
couples understand fully what
commitment is all about, "to
make sure they're on the same
page," said Jenkins, and how
to handle times when they
don't agree through conflict
management and how to com-
municate more effectively.
"We don't always communi-
cate in the way we think we
are," said Jenkins. "Men and
women are fundamentally dif-
ferent, and it's finally OK to say
that. The first step is just to be
aware of differences, how we
interpret behaviors differently.

PREMARITAL page C32

Our new 7200 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom
will open summer of 1997.

Please call our sales and catering
office at (810) 643-2286.
Monday-Friday 8 AM - 5 PM

Somerset Inn
2601 W. Big Beaver Rd.
(just east of Coolidge)
Troy, Miichigan

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Our High Energy Entertainers have been
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making parties come alive since 1957.
• • PLUS... Nightclub Lighting • Dance Risers • Party Novelties & Giveaways • •
Custom T-Shirts & Wearables • Big Screen & Video Simulcasts • Valet Parking
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Instruction • Button Men • Roxy's Sweets • Something NEW - Joe Video! •
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ALWAYS... Guest participation & Interaction!
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specialists today to design a perfect package for your needs!
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29936 Orchard Lake Rd. - Farmington Hills
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(810) 626-1100
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C

s

Get your Guests
Excited„. Tell Them
JOrs Invited!

joe - cormll

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