 By Dr. David Marine Mabry Encompass Executive Director The newlywed years are often filled with joy, hope, and a deep sense of possibility. You’ve said “I do,” begun building a shared life, and stepped into something sacred. Yet for many couples, these early years also bring unexpected challenges. Marriage doesn’t remove pressure—it often reveals it. And that revelation is not a failure; it’s part of formation.
If dating and engagement are about discernment and preparation, the newlywed years are about practice. This is the season where love begins to take shape in everyday rhythms—how you communicate, handle stress, manage expectations, and choose one another when life feels ordinary or overwhelming.
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 By Cindee Johnson Relationship Champion and Encompass Partner Healthy relationships don’t just magically happen--even at the most wonderful time of the year. Maybe, especially at the most wonderful time of the year. Whether it is marriage, friendship, dating, co-workers, family, or your church community, relationships require intentionality to grow and thrive.
As we move into a new year, many of us set goals. We want to improve our health, our finances, our faith, our careers. But, what about our relationships? Do we pour into those? Let’s look at three essential biblical principles for healthy relationships with practical ways to live them out.  By Lavern Nissley Encompass Relationship Facilitator Recently, I made a list of all the employers I've had in my life, not counting seasons of self-employment and consulting. The total number of employers over about 6 decades came to 13, with the very first being corn detasseling at age 14 on a seed corn farm near Goshen, Indiana.
In addition to these 13 jobs, there have also been dozens of volunteer assignments like boards, task forces, teams, etc. All have involved interacting with people, with most of the experiences being positive. Strong teams aren’t built on talent alone--they’re built on relationships. When people feel connected, respected, and valued, collaboration becomes natural and productivity soars. Here are five essential relationship skills, plus real-world examples to show how they work in action.  By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations It’s the small things that make a marriage feel alive. A touch on the shoulder, a shared laugh over morning coffee, a quick check-in before bed — these moments may seem ordinary, but they’re what hold couples together over time. My husband, David, and I have developed these rituals with each other in our 32 years of marriage. A touch as we pass each other in the kitchen, a hug in the morning and asking how we slept, and a kiss good night before we fall asleep are all ways to demonstrate connection.
In our work with hundreds of couples through Encompass Connection Center, we’ve seen a clear truth: emotional connection isn’t about big, dramatic gestures. It’s built in the small, consistent rituals that say, “You matter to me.”  By Abby Glaser Encompass Community Advocate Parenting is hard. Full stop! As a mom of five, I’ve done a lot of things well over the years—and made plenty of mistakes too. One of the hardest areas to navigate is parenting during conflict. Anger, frustration, exhaustion, and a dozen other emotions can bring out the worst in any of us. Let’s look at three common mistakes parents make in conflict—and some practical ways to fix them.
The Epidemic of Disconnection: Why Relationship Skills Are the New Mental Health Crisis Response10/29/2025  By Dr. David M. Mabry Encompass Executive Director We are living in what experts are calling an epidemic of disconnection.
Despite being the most digitally connected generation in history, people report feeling more isolated, anxious, and emotionally exhausted than ever before. The numbers are staggering: rates of anxiety and depression have risen more than 25% globally since 2020, and loneliness has become a public health concern on par with obesity and smoking. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General released a landmark Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community, declaring that the lack of meaningful relationships is now “a major contributor to poor mental and physical health.” Research cited in the advisory shows that chronic loneliness increases the risk of premature death by 26–32%, rivaling the effects of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Let that sink in: our relationships—or lack of them—are literally a matter of life and death.  By Kermit Rowe ECC Relationship Coach Katana Wolfcomer and Brendan Myers were an engaged couple like all other engaged couples… in love and planning for a lifetime of happiness together. But they also knew they still had challenging issues of spotty communication and wavering trust, complicated by unresolved grief and childhood dysfunction, and it drove them to seek a better way before committing their lives to each other.
They found Encompass Connection Center’s foundational RINGS program, which is focused on strengthening relationship skills through practicing the truths of good communication. I, along with dozens of Clark County pastors, signed an Encompass-inspired pledge about two decades ago that I wouldn’t marry a couple unless they had some premarital counseling. AI-generated statistics support this claim with proven data that explain why: Studies show that completing premarital counseling reduces divorce rates by 31%, with couples reporting a 30% higher marital success rate. That translates into improved communication, stronger conflict resolution skills, and greater emotional well-being and satisfaction within their relationship. Katana and Brendan have even more practical and experiential reasons why:  By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations Have you ever wondered why your spouse reacts so differently to stress, goals, or even household tasks? Or why certain conversations energize you while others leave you feeling drained? These differences often go beyond preferences--they're rooted in how each of us is uniquely wired.
At Encompass Connection Center, David and I often coach couples and use personality assessments like Myers Briggs, DISC, and the Enneagram to help couples find out more about themselves and their partner. CliftonStrengths assessment (formerly StrengthsFinder) has become one of our favorite tools for marriage enrichment as it identifies what’s right with you—and how your strengths can build connection.  By Lavern Nissley Encompass Relationship Facilitator When I first began hearing about the Enneagram approach to understanding personality some ten years ago, I remember blocking it out, almost as if it were some dreaded disease to just stay away from. It was numbers-based, which felt strange to me, in contrast to other approaches like Myers-Briggs and DISC that use textual descriptions, or The Primary Colors personality approach that uses the colors red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and blue to represent key behavior characteristics.
What turned my heart (and my head) was two trusted relationships in my life that talked quite positively about the Enneagram. One was our daughter and son-in-law, Kevin and Kristen Frank, who had found it helpful to understanding dynamics in their marriage. The other was a clinical counselor, Chris LeMaster, who had become a sort of "expert" on the Enneagram and used it frequently and successfully with clients. I thought, "Well, if these people are speaking so highly of it, I should check it out!" I did and came away with the same conclusion they had - that it is another helpful tool for self-insight and relational health. What follows is a brief introduction, accompanied by additional resources for optional follow-up.  By Dr. David Mabry Encompass Executive Director If you're looking for a fresh and meaningful way to connect with your spouse—beyond the usual dinner and a movie—try exploring your personality types together. Taking time to understand each other’s unique wiring can be a powerful way to strengthen marriage communication, deepen empathy, and grow your relationship. Whether you're dating, engaged, newlyweds, or decades into marriage, using a personality assessment as a couples activity is a fun and insightful way to build greater connection and insight into how you both think, decide, and interact.
One of the most helpful tools I’ve found for understanding personality is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI). It’s a well-established framework that helps people understand how they naturally perceive the world and make decisions. I’ve used it personally, professionally, and in coaching sessions with couples, families, and workplace teams. In fact, I’m a certified MBTI practitioner and have seen how learning about personality can transform relationships. |
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HostsDr. David Marine and Theresa Mabry are Co-Directors of Encompass since June 1, 2024. TOPICS
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Encompass Connection Center services are provided to all eligible persons on a non-discriminatory basis. Encompass Connection Center complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning discrimination does not discriminate on the basis of the potential participant's race, gender, gender orientation, age, disability or religion.
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Program content is the sole responsibility of Encompass Connection Center and does not necessarily represent the views of the funders.
Encompass Connection Center services are provided to all eligible persons on a non-discriminatory basis. Encompass Connection Center complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning discrimination does not discriminate on the basis of the potential participant's race, gender, gender orientation, age, disability or religion.
Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 37-1485217