The ACME Mini-Retreat

The classic ACME Retreat is a 12 to 15 hour event spread over a weekend or five days. It is presented by an ACME Couple trained to lead by sharing their own relationship. A Mini-Retreat may be shortened to 7-8 hours. The Retreat is open to committed couples who want to make their good relationship even better and is not to be mistaken for therapy. The leaders create a positive environment and serve as role model. They are not perfect. They are one more couple working on their own relationship who have skills and experiences to share. The program begins with self-introductions and an ice-breaker. Then we move on into communication skills. Active listening is demonstrated, and the distinction between ideas and emotions is clarified. All sharing is voluntary between the couples. The ACME technique of dialoging, or talking "Knee to Knee" is demonstrated. One couple shares while the others listen. Then other couples might respond by sharing with each other. This is not a brain-storming or "fix it" session. The next topic is conflict management. Distinctions between co-existence, capitulation, compromise, and collaboration are illustrated. An add-on to this topic might be anger management. The idea is to demonstrate and build skills. Thus, typically hot topics like money or sex are avoided. Learning starts with "baby steps" before these difficult areas are approached. One of the characteristics of an ACME Retreat is a "rolling agenda." The couples may select additional topics to be covered within the time limits. Fun topics might be play, or date night, or fond memories. As a conclusion, one exercise might be an assessment of all the good things a couple has in their relationship and their potential areas of growth. Then shared affirmations produces a warm closure. A Mini-Retreat is when this material is compressed into seven to eight hours. In either case, a retreat is only an introduction. As follow up, there are books to read and exercises to repeat. Enrichment is a life-time process, and some couples choose to get together in a Marriage Enrichment Group (MEG) to continue their growth.