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Trying to make ends meet in this difficult economy can wreak havoc on family relationships. Add to that special circumstances, such as losing a job and facing long-term unemployment, and any couple can be pushed over the edge.

“A couple dealing with negative emotions at the same time is a bad combination,” says Scott Wetzler, PhD, chief of the Division of Psychology at Montefiore Medical Center and professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “These kinds of crises can fracture relationships.”

Dr. Wetzler advises couples facing money woes, unemployment and other issues to recognize the psychological minefields they’re both passing through and learn to focus on solutions without acting out.

If you and your spouse are experiencing some rough spots in your marriage, or you just want to keep your marriage healthy, Montefiore Medical Center may be able to help. The hospital offers a unique community-based program, called Supporting Healthy Marriage (SHM), that teaches couples skills to make their marriages healthier.

“The program has several full-time, expert staff devoted to providing intensive family support and referral services,” says Samuel J. Fasulo, PhD, licensed psychologist, clinical evaluator and supervisor of Recruitment and Family Support Services for SHM. “These services are tailored specifically to each couple in the program and address a range of potential life barriers, such as how to access low-cost medical care. We also help couples access high-quality educational and employment programs.”

Couples who participate in the SHM program attend a 10-week group marriage education workshop led by psychologists who teach them how to deal with conflict, communicate effectively, compromise, solve problems, handle stress, nurture their relationship and care for themselves. Other vital relationship skills also are addressed.

After couples complete the program, they take additional classes on a wide range of topics, including parenting, managing money, finding employment and rekindling desire. A Family Support Coordinator helps each couple set and achieve goals.

SHM is a federally funded multi-site Marriage Education Intervention Research Program sponsored by Montefiore and administered by University Behavioral Associates. The yearlong program is FREE to couples who meet study criteria. Participants must be lower-income married couples who have at least one child or are expecting a child, are at least 18 years of age and live in the greater New York City area.

“Supporting Healthy Marriage is really a child-focused program,” says Samantha Litzinger, PhD, a marriage educator for the program. “Because studies show that kids raised by happy parents tend to do better in life, our goal is to help parents develop more fulfilling relationships—and lives—which will trickle down to their children.”