Relationship 911 Testimonials

As a clinical psychologist, it is hard to find a professional who I can turn to when I need help. Mark is really good at understanding human nature (both men and women) in ways that I could never do for myself. No matter how professional a person is, you just can’t ‘doctor’ yourself. You need someone with incredible understanding, real life understanding, along with the educational background and ability to teach in ways that are easy to take in. Mark is that guy… WOW!!! What a difference he made in my marriage. We were headed for divorce, but now we are closer than we have ever been. Thank you!

This was an absolutely transformational weekend in terms of what, how and why of intimate relationships. Marriage 911 provides surgical insight into how attachment works and why we do what we do in relationships. I recommend this experience for each and every person in a relationship. Thank you Mark for the coaching, guidance and depth of understanding, and Kelli for the nurturing, wise presence.

Both my husband and I are therapist-counselors and have been in couples counseling ourselves for almost 7 years, on and off. What Mark and his Marriage 911 retreat was able to accomplish in 2 days was nothing short of a miracle. The curriculum was well thought out and each lesson built on the one before with purpose, so that the journey as an individual and couple would be eye-opening. I felt safe to explore my feelings and never felt judged by Mark. He is truly passionate about what he does and has a gift of taking you to a deeper level of understanding and connection with your spouse. Thank you Mark for helping us rekindle the spark of our marriage.

I learned tools that I never had been exposed to before. The curriculum that we worked with laid out concepts that I immediately connected to. I finally understood why I do the things I do and why I always gravitate towards them in times of stress or conflict. I also have a starting point to better understand my spouse and why he does the things he does. I also felt that Mark kept the material relevant, engaging and personal. I like that he took just a few large concepts and broke them down into understandable and applicable techniques. I also like that we reviewed a few times for deeper understanding. I appreciate the experience you bring and the intuitive nature you have in order to serve the needs of the group the best. You have a talent and gift. Keep it up!!

Yes! I would recommend this retreat for the following reasons. #1: The tools and concepts were eye opening. They gave me encouragement and hope (especially the ‘heart talk’). I learned how to make a conscious effort to be aware of my own fears and reactions and how to defuse that in others by seeking the reasons BEHIND their behaviors. #2: The readings and short assignments, and even the ‘movie night,’ are all helpful for me to understand myself better and the dance I tend towards. P.S. Thank you Mark, I am really grateful for the opportunity and the life experience and knowledge you shared. I will DEFINITELY put this into practice and work on learning how to do this in my life.

The location of isolation starts the process of focusing on the relationship and it makes you open up to communication with my spouse. I would recommend this retreat for the introduction to the ‘tools’ to better communicate with my wife and understand why I operate the way I do. I now understand my ‘imprint,’ and I can understand what I want in my relationship and be able to manage the cycle of my fears so I can better communicate with my wife. Just being able to identify the emotions and fears is huge for me. I really resonated with the statement: ‘Do you want to be right or do you want to be connected?’ Thank you so much for caring, Mark! You have changed my life and I am sincerely grateful. How about offering follow-up retreats so we can see more about how to use these new tools?

Dear Mark and Kelli, I’m struck by not just your insight this week, but by your ability to present it in a way that I accepted it. I don’t think your advice would’ve sunk in had you not set me up for it like you did. I also appreciate your flexibility in changing the schedule to address what was unfolding between my wife and me in real time. I suspect you’ve developed a very effective template and schedule, but if you hadn’t broken from it to listen to my spouse’s additional input on the morning of the second day, and hadn’t introduced heart talk when you did on the morning of the third day, I don’t think the retreat would’ve been as effective for us. You have a wonderful ability to size up people and their relationship issues, and then explain it to them in a way that is tailored to help them accept it. I am impressed and grateful. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything.

I felt heard and understood. I felt comfortable almost the whole time. Mark and Kelli are approachable and so easy to talk to. They don’t take sides. I felt they could see into me, beyond the surface and into my sadness, anger and uneasiness.

All I wanted was to better understand my beautiful wife and for her to better understand me. That need was absolutely met!!! Not only did this retreat meet the need in my marriage, but it opened my windows to so much more: to all of my relationships and to people in general. Every couple needs to be here, whether their relationship is full and healthy or empty and volatile. I cannot say thank you enough.

Marriage 911 was essential to helping my husband and me delve deep into understanding the root of our problems, which ultimately were based in fears, disappointments, hurts and pain that came out of our childhood. Mark helped us to reach a level of understanding that laid out a map for my husband and me to begin to heal and quell those hurts to the point where we could bring love and respect back into our relationship, despite our past. We had read dozens of books and been to a handful of marriage therapists in the past in an effort to fix our marriage. None of them ever came close to helping us truly acknowledge that our past pain had a direct correlation to how we react and behave, and how we enact our ‘fear dance’ with each other, the way that Mark presented it to us. If you’ve tried everything and not found success, you need to give Marriage 911 a chance. I believe it is going to be the pivoting point in the success of our marriage.

Mark, you have a gift and I cannot thank you enough for helping us navigate through the challenges of marriage. You were very easy to relate to. I felt comfortable to be open, honest and forthcoming with you. Most important was not being held to a strict time frame, and you truly cared for the well-being of my wife and me. Your marriage concepts and techniques made a lot of sense, and while hard to implement at first, they were easy to understand through your guidance.

I believe it is important to have the tools necessary to deal with conflict, and with this program you are given just that. It presents you with ways to be equipped, not only with marriage but with all relationships of life. With knowledge comes power, and you are definitely left with the knowledge of things you never knew that gives you the power to overcome obstacles! I have enjoyed how with every issue you are taught how to connect on an intimate and deeper level and dig to the core, so that it becomes relevant to almost every issue on a broad range. This experience has definitely been rewarding to me.

I thought it was VERY valuable to learn what our wants and fears are. Now that I know, not only for me but also for my husband, I (we) can start on changing for the better. Thank you Mark.

This retreat has been eye opening. The presentation helped me to better understand my wife and myself. It is a great step to begin a new relationship. In my opinion, all people in relationships should come to this retreat, not just married couples.

Before coming, I had the mindset that in order for healing to happen in my marriage, my husband needed deliverance from his past. Now I see that with my extended grace and understanding of his wants, we can reach areas in our conversations together that create connection and mutual satisfaction for both of us.

One thing we learned at this retreat is something called ‘The Fear Cycle.’ It was very revealing in identifying the signals or triggers that happen when conflict arises, the motives behind it, and a plan for me to get out of that destructive cycle or to help him get out of the cycle. I would recommend this retreat to others.

It was great to see on paper what our fears, reactions and wants were and how we can spin out of control. But most importantly, we received the tools to get off the negative cycle. The off-ramp of ‘She/he feels as if…’ has helped me to turn from debating about facts and information into the feeling realm. Also, seeing my wife’s feelings as something that is happening in that moment, that I can enter into, has helped me to keep from becoming defensive.

Enjoyed everything about the weekend. Mark, your teaching style and demeanor were very enjoyable. The accommodations were wonderful and your insights, tools and teaching were very enlightening.

The location, food and peaceful surroundings make it safe to be real and authentic. There were no outside stressors to interfere with focusing on self. Great tools for awareness, and eye opening for self-improvement and wanting to become a better human for family and even for society.

Yes! I would recommend this retreat to others. Why? Because it gets to the roots of the core and there is no trouble that can’t be worked on. It also brings a positive attitude to all involved. I think it is all very touching and heartfelt.

My eyes have been blind, and now I can see the love that God wants for us: to love unconditionally and to forgive one another.

The Marriage 911 retreat is a life-changing experience. Mark did a great job and dissected it well on how to manage conflicts in smoother ways, and made us understand our needs and our spouses’ needs. This retreat helps marriages that are really in distress move on to healing instead of dwelling on the problems.

I felt the tools that Mark presented allowed us to break through long-standing barriers because it was a whole new approach for us. I am leaving with genuine hope for our future together, which is really a miracle. I saw my spouse actually ‘hear’ things that have frustrated me for years.

I am not trying to ‘blow smoke,’ but this retreat has been invaluable. Mark not only explained but also provided concrete tools for relationship building and understanding. I came in feeling ‘misunderstood’ and ‘right,’ and I am going out realizing my need to understand and how being ‘right’ is not prudent in relationship building.

I would recommend Marriage 911 to others. I learned how to feel the depth of what marriage is about. We had a wonderful time and I sure learned a lot. Thank you Mark!!

I loved how it allowed the barriers we’ve put up to protect ourselves to truly come down. I feel a true renewed sense of hope for our marriage and that there are real tools to help us when we get home to continue on this lifelong journey as PARTNERS!!! I believe my spouse REALLY got into my heart to see ME… and could see WHY we are in this TOGETHER!

I’ve come to feel and understand how miscommunication in my relationships can go down a very destructive path, but being able to connect and be on the same page is wonderful. Not to solve problems per se, but to understand one another. I would recommend this program because I can truly see how it can help anybody in a relationship. When it comes to critiquing the overall retreat, I wouldn’t change anything.

I loved the personal experiences Mark shared. Being able to show how important understanding one’s spouse is to communication and connection was an important concept which I have learned. How we communicate, desire and act within our imprint styles shed light on a lot of our history. Thank you so much for sharing, teaching and allowing us to be here to grow as a couple and as a family at home. Thank you!!!

I would definitely recommend this Marriage 911 retreat to others! It improves communication and helps couples understand each other on a level that lets each receive what they need from their marriage.

I think that the retreat format is an excellent approach. The focused time and intensity seemed to give us a foundation to build on. The Fear Dance is very helpful in identifying our needs and our argument pattern. Learning Heart Talk is amazing, as it helps us connect on a more effective level. Having two days of dedicated and uninterrupted focus on our relationship, along with our new tools, gives me great hope that we can grow into the love we both desire.

This experience was amazing! It completely explained why my husband and I couldn’t agree on important issues. It explained a lot about my childhood and why I act the way I do. I love that I now know exactly what I can do to create a lasting, passionate marriage. I would totally recommend it for people who are constantly arguing or feel ‘stuck.’ I wished we could have stayed longer!

I would absolutely recommend this program to others I know who would benefit. Mark has a wealth of knowledge that I was clueless about. He is an awesome teacher and explains the concepts so simply for me to understand. It will be a life changer for myself and my wife to constantly practice on a daily basis as we continue on our journey of living the quality of life that God intended for us. Mahalo Ke Akua for Mark and his gift of giving!

I think the information was given in a clear, male- and female-friendly way. It gave me major insight into why we are the way we are and why we react the way that we do when triggered. I think the tools that I have gained this weekend will help not only with my romantic relationship, but with all of my close relationships that have issues, like my children, siblings and parents.

Mark’s presentation was very unbiased (not favoring the guy or the girl in the relationship). It was positive, not about the negative. It was about understanding each other and bringing out the good. Never at any time during the weekend did I feel defensive or angry. (I say that because I normally feel that way with therapy.)

This retreat helped me to understand what was missing in my marriage and what my wife was longing for from me. Mark also helped me understand myself and identified what I needed to do as a husband. He gave me clarity and guidance.

I ABSOLUTELY would recommend Marriage 911. I always assumed coming to counseling would improve communication between my spouse and me, but the secrets of intimacy and communication that were revealed here were truly profound. I feel like Mark has systematically designed a way of breaking through barriers and fostering effective emotional communication between couples. Why he isn’t SHOUTING THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS is beyond me. This is something that would benefit EVERY couple, siblings, parent and child, or any combination of relationship. GROUND BREAKING and profound!!! Thank you!!

Honestly, I had a fear that we would be given tools that may be used later as ammunition. My fears were put to rest within the first couple of hours after talking about the objectives. I felt this retreat helped us relearn and reflect on tools we learned during marriage counseling with Mark previously. Now we have come to seek an even deeper understanding of each other, and we have learned to respectfully navigate through tough conversations. I feel that, with practice, we now have the tools to give each other what we need and desire in our marriage. Recently, I have heard stories of couples or individuals who have seen marriage counselors, and their stories were off-putting and seemed biased. My experience with Mark was that he was extremely unbiased. No pointing of fingers and no ‘who’s wrong and who’s right’ atmosphere. It is so important that my wife and I discuss and decide what is right and wrong for us, and now we have a way to do so respectfully and effectively. Thank you for this weekend. It couldn’t have come at a better time for us.

Marriage 911 allows the participants to explore and begin to understand the roots of the problems a marriage is having. The tools given during the sessions are understandable and practical. Mark draws out and is able to pinpoint certain core problems that need to be addressed, all while doing it in a way that allows the couples to feel safe.

I learned good tools for understanding my wife better. I feel excited about our future, rather than the despair I carried coming into the weekend. Time will truly tell, but it feels great to know what needs to happen now.

I will gladly recommend this program, not just for married couples but for everyone. The amount that I learned about me here was undeniable. It was truly an eye- and heart-opening experience. It also helped me open up with myself and actually become familiar with WHO I am. I can’t say thank you enough for that.

Marriage 911 helped us find out why we do what we do by knowing our imprint styles. I now understand my partner and can empathize with him and his love styles. I feel my partner learned so much about himself and my imprints that can help him to better respond to me in the future. I think everyone should learn the concept of having ‘heart talks’ and use them more.

I would recommend the Marriage 911 retreat. I learned how to open up and express myself in a better way, and how to approach what is bothering me differently. I also learned how to accept the truth even though it hurts, because it helps lead to the actual problem and to solving the situation. It has taught me to become a couple and a partner and not look at situations on my own. It gave me a better understanding of my partner. Thank you Mark for giving me the tools in my way of thinking, for myself and how I am with others.

I feel the tools that were given will align our marriage for success. Not only success, but a greater path to intimacy and a healthy relationship, not only for each other but for our children as well.

I feel that walking out of here with the tools to communicate between my wife and me will have a loving effect that can flourish throughout our family. Using Mark’s analogies, I walked in with a shovel as my tool and walked out with a backhoe to move our relationship forward.

Marriage 911 gave me peace of mind and hope with my partner. I would recommend it to anyone.

Now I realize how truly clueless I was regarding how to express and empathize with my own and my wife’s emotions. I now have the tools to further my exploration and understanding of emotion.

The curriculum that we used was a great example of the discord that can drive a couple apart. Mark spoke using clear sentences and examples, and Kelli brought nurturing and grace to the discussions. I felt like they both actively listened and were genuinely trying to help.

I would recommend this experience to anyone. The personal insight I have been able to gain about myself and my husband has been very valuable. I will keep this information with me always and will forever be grateful for my time with Mark and Kelli.

This Marriage 911 has been one of the most influential experiences of my life. I have a lot of work to do as a male and a partner. Mark and Kelli are a great team. They present ideals and concepts from a different perspective that touches all kinds of people. I have learned that marriage and parenting are two of the skills we are least taught in this lifetime, so I need to learn about them. Learning to live with another independent person is no easy task. I believe Heart Talk and better understanding and listening skills with my wife will help save our marriage. Kudos to Mark and Kelli for opening our eyes.

Very informative. Mark is a very knowledgeable counselor with lots of compassion and insight into the troubles and needs of a marriage. I feel that leaving here I will have the tools to give my marriage a fighting chance.

This intensive opened us up on a deeper level of communication and understanding. It changed the way we interact with each other on a day-to-day basis. It also helped me to learn how to truly understand my spouse.

I would definitely recommend this retreat to others. The secluded setting and structured time frame keep distractions to a minimum and open up new ways to voice questions.

I believe the communication-building exercises give a road map to new ways to address old issues. The tools give you the ability to tackle your issues and baggage in small ways and layers. That makes it not as overwhelming, and I’m more likely to continue if I feel small doses of success. And the food was fabulous!!

The experience offered a setting where my wife and I were the primary focus. The lessons and discussions were intimate and purposeful, and our relationship challenges were folded right into them.

I enjoyed the structure of the program and the openness and real, authentic feeling it brought. I enjoyed the support and encouragement.

This program makes you feel very comfortable. Mark listens well and explains the concepts using many examples to make understanding easy and have it all make sense. The Heart Talk tool allows us to get what each other is saying. We are leaving here with new tools! Thank you Mark, I believe you got this and did an amazing job!

The program helped me really see why I was acting the way I was from the beginning of my life, and helped me to address it so I can focus on myself to be a better person. This helped me see what I was doing wrong and helped me fix the problem. I would definitely recommend this intensive to others.

The methods taught are simple. I enjoyed learning ‘Heart Talk,’ which will give me the tools I need to listen to and understand my wife, which in turn will strengthen our relationship and enhance our marriage and parenting skills.

I have new faith in our marriage and the tools we were provided. Mark was very attentive in listening and understanding our needs. This allowed us the opportunity to be open and vulnerable, allowing him to guide us in a positive direction. While our way forward will be hard, I leave knowing and truly feeling we have a new and better approach to a fulfilled marriage. Thank you so much!

[My wife] and I are super blessed and thankful for having worked with Mark and Kelli. You guys have game!! Your experience! Your wisdom!! Your approach of showing and teaching is second to none. Thank you.

No matter how bad you think your marriage is, Mark and Kelli teach and give you the tools to try to build and better it. We have had a great experience and know we will be better and have a stronger marriage and love for each other. We love the tools you provided us. We loved the chats we had on a personal level. You guys are the best!

I would recommend Marriage 911 because Mark broke down each concept to make it easy to understand. At the end of the session, I knew a lot about myself as well as my wife, and I had a clear understanding of what I needed to do. I wish we had come to this earlier in our marriage.

Mark has a genuine and non-judgmental approach to teaching and is very accurate in his understanding of what is so greatly impacting your life. His depth of knowledge is impressive and something that should be taught in high school and college to give everyone a better, deeper and more thorough understanding of interpersonal relationships.

Mark took the time to understand what the REAL problem was. Even when I couldn’t see it for myself, he found ways to help me understand.

This Marriage 911 intensive was informative and very engaging. I had some reservations about doing this, but I am very glad we did. Everything was positive. I truly believe that ‘Heart Talk’ will save us, and hopefully the world!

I adore your lovely detail in making me feel at home by your attentiveness to preparing meals during this retreat for us. I so appreciate your hospitality. I also have really enjoyed your program. I will not hesitate to tell others in need of your service. You, Mark and Kelli, are wonderful people!

I will say it again: you have exceeded every expectation. I would recommend it to any couple struggling with their marriage… or not. Either way, it’s good stuff! I appreciate your program, and I deeply appreciate you as counselors and, more importantly, as human beings and good friends. May God bless you in all of your future endeavors.

The experience was educational. I felt safe to discuss and disclose our problems. For me, the sessions raised a lot of questions that I hope to get some answers to in time. Mark and Kelli are warm and welcoming, and we hope to use the tools we were given to strengthen and save our marriage.

Going through this program, it was very helpful to learn the imprint styles that we work from. We hope to use ‘Heart Talk’ effectively and grow from this. This would be a great ‘pre-marriage’ course as well. The home environment made this experience very comfortable.

This was an awesome life experience presented in a retreat format. The information provided will give my wife and me the tools to help us resolve conflict. The hospitality, materials and information provided were excellent. Thank you!

Marriage 911 gives you a new look at how to communicate. It allows you to learn about not only yourself, your wants and needs, but Heart Talk teaches you how to find out your spouse’s wants and needs as well. This is a great escape from normalcy. Mark and Kelli were great teachers. Very insightful!!

I experienced a whole new way to love and understand my wife’s needs, and what makes her feel joy, appreciation, love, respect and understanding. This retreat helped us know how to love each other. I have learned a lot and appreciate Mark and Kelli for reaching out to me, my wife and our marriage. Five stars!

The curriculum was priceless. In just two days I have learned a lot about myself and my husband’s needs. The tools and teaching we received have brought hope back into my heart and into my marriage. We now have hope that our relationship of 34 years can be healed, as long as we choose to do the work. Mark and Kelli have a heart for serving others. Bonus: Kelli’s cooking is awesome!!!

This program gave me the tools to actually see my wife and learn about where she came from. It motivated me to bring these tools into my marriage so I can be the man and husband that not only I want to be, but that she deserves. Thank you Mark and Kelli.

I am very happy that we were given tools to work through conflicts in our marriage. I also greatly appreciate how you brought in personal experiences to aid in explanations. It was very helpful to not feel alone, and to feel understood.

This was the kickstart my wife and I needed to get back in sync. It was not easy, but worth the fight. Heart Talk truly works. The lodging was comfortable and the food was fantastic!

Marriage 911 gets at the heart of the issues and wants of each person in the relationship. And, unlike traditional counseling, it doesn’t take sides and allows both parties to feel heard and safe.

It gave me the tools and understanding for how to communicate without judgment, and to listen with full attention. By doing this, I have found a connection with my mate at a deeper level. Heart Talk and understanding my imprint style will allow me to remove confrontation from our relationship and grow together with a deeper connection.

I would recommend this retreat because it is here that you will learn tools for a successful marriage and for keeping your intimacy and connection strong. Best love experience!!! I am so grateful. Heart Talk will change our lives and the lives of our kids. This was better than expected!!! Thank you!!!

Mark and Kelli brought passion and a wealth of knowledge in marriage counseling and life experience as they counseled us. There was no problem too big or small for them. We could trust in their expertise, and they made us feel cared for and safe at a time when we as a couple felt most vulnerable. It’s important to feel your counselors know what they are doing and care for you. Mark and Kelli are experts at this. Thank you for a wonderful three days! We appreciate you both.

Mark and Kelli really know how to listen to what is going on and offer solutions and methods to overcome relational difficulties. I highly recommend this retreat to others. It was over the top.