To create an environment of safety and personal growth, all participants and group leaders must agree to the following cultural guidelines.

Participant Conduct-

Participants are expected to attend all sessions at the time indicated on the event schedule. Sessions will begin on time unless stated otherwise. Time is set aside for marital connection and romance (private discussion, dates, etc.)

Participants are expected to manage their behavior and activities during this time so that it does not interfere with their attendance or ability to focus and function during sessions. All participants are expected to participate in sessions sober and not under the influence of controlled substances.

Respect the Process. Growth requires rigorous honesty; without it, the integrity of the group can be affected. Support among members is encouraged. All participants will refrain from expressing any resentment or personal judgment toward any participant or what any other participant has shared. Opinions are welcome, but only delivered with empathy and constructively.

We understand that most participants have children and may need to call home. Please make every effort to do so during scheduled breaks. Cell phones should be turned to vibrate at a minimum but are preferred to be left in your room during sessions.

Snacks are provided and are available throughout the day. However, all meals (breakfast & lunch) should be consumed during the time designated (not during sessions). These things can be distracting individually and cause a distraction for the group.

Your Commitment to Confidentiality- Sharing in a group can be anxiety-provoking. Therefore we ask that you keep all information discussed in sessions confidential. Confidentiality within the group setting is a shared responsibility of all participants and leaders. While group leaders may not disclose participants communications or information except as provided by law, participant's communications are not protected. Confidentiality within the group setting is often based on mutual trust and respect. This request means that you may not discuss any information shared or the reactions of any group member with anyone outside of the group. You may and are encouraged to discuss your reactions to the material outside the group, but this should not include any identifying information or reactions of others. This includes, but is not limited to, names, physical descriptions, biological information, and specifics to the content of interactions with other group members.

Our Commitment to Confidentiality- Confidentiality is an essential aspect of the counseling process, and our staff and facilitators will carefully guard the information you have entrusted to them. All guest facilitators are bound to confidentiality by their professional code of ethics and in the terms of their In-Sync Facilitator Contract Agreement.

Information disclosed in any In-Sync session will be held confidential.

Exceptions to confidentiality are provided under specific federal and state laws. In cases where there is a reasonable suspicion that a participant will cause harm to themselves, may cause harm to someone else, suspicions of child abuse/ neglect, or if a participant is in a situation where their safety is in jeopardy, an exception to confidentiality exists. It is legally mandated that confidentiality be broken to ensure safety.

Mediation- On rare occasions, conflict may develop between participants. To ensure that any such dispute will be resolved in a manner that will respect the privacy of those participants and the well-being of the group, those individuals will be asked to talk with a staff member in a more intimate setting. They may also be asked to table the conflict until the conclusion of that particular session if there is no staff available. Any concerns should be communicated directly with your group leader. Please refrain from devaluing or gossiping about your group leader, facilitator, or other group members. This is to help protect the safety of the group.

Our Framework- All In-Sync Couple's Retreat sessions are done in either breakout (divided) groups or large groups. The couple's group session is a process of understanding more about yourself and your spouse in a safe environment. In the group, you will have the opportunity to explore patterns of thinking and behaving similar to how you relate in your relationships. Break-out and group sessions are "peer-led" but are based on scholarly, evidence-based research. Licensed mental health professionals create all participant packets.

You are welcome to share as much or as little about yourself while in the group. You are welcome to ask questions at any time. The more deeply you understand the process, the more effectively you can incorporate positive change into your life and relationship. In-Sync Couples works from the "man in the mirror" perspective. All sessions are focused on personal growth for the betterment of the relationship. At no point will a group leader or member engage in conversations or entertain comments that focus on how or why another person should change.

If you should have important legal, financial, or medical questions or issues, we recommend you seek advice from an appropriate, independent professional.

Fees- All payments must be paid by the dates indicated at registration. Failure to make the final payment by the date indicated will result in the loss of reserved registration. Any payment arrangement with In-Sync staff must be made before the original due date. Failure to make payment by the date indicated in the payment arrangement will also result in the loss of the reserved registration.

Cancellations & No Shows- Cancellations made before the final payment deadline will be refunded the total registration cost minus the deposit cost (example: Total retreat attendance =350, Deposit =150, Refund =200). Participant payments equate to a small fraction of the cost of the retreat. Therefore all monies collected will be allocated to retreat costs immediately following payment deadlines. All fees are nonrefundable after the posted due dates. In the event of an emergency or some other extreme circumstance, In-Sync staff, at their discretion, may issue a refund according to the formula above.

All fees for services rendered during an In-Sync Couples Retreat are covered in registration fees unless otherwise noted. No fees or tips will be paid directly to any In-Sync Staff. All donations should be made through the website www.insynccouples.com.

For the benefit of the individual and the group, the following conditions will be treated seriously: violations could result in barring from future registration and/or request to vacate the In-Sync House.

1. Threatening or aggressive behavior

2. Repeated breaches of commitments and group boundaries;

3. Missing 60+ minutes of session time.

Media Consent:

Photographs/video is only used to promote In-Sync Couples and will never be shared with any third party.

I authorize In-Sync Couples to use photographs/recordings.

I authorize In-Sync Couples to use photographs only.

I do not authorize In-Sync Couples to use photographs/recordings

Date

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Name

First Name

Last Name

By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read this Participant Contract Agreement. I confirm that I understand confidentiality, exceptions to confidentiality, and the expectations of my role as a participant.