About FOCCUS

What is FOCCUS?

FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study) is a self-diagnostic inventory designed to assist couples prepare for marriage and their lives together.

FOCCUS enables couples to earn more about themselves and their unique relationship and to identify and work through various issues before marriage. As an inventory it provides individualised couple feedback on where each partner stands in regard to topic areas important to marriage. It is not a test or predict success or failure in marriage.


What's involved?

A FOCCUS Facilitator takes a couple through the three stages of FOCCUS. First, the couple complete the inventory which consists of a few biographical details and a series of questions. Each person individually responds to the questions by checking agree, disagree or uncertain.

Secondly when the results are collated, the Facilitator goes through the areas of differences with the couple to assist them to discuss these areas. Couples find much more to talk together about important issues and work towards better communication and understanding.

The third stage is participation in a pre-marriage educational or skills training program which builds on the awareness couples have after completing FOCCUS. These educational and training programs are recommended for all. The FOCCUS content covers the range of elements necessary for a successful marriage. The educational program develops skills and shares information on the areas discussed in FOCCUS.


What are the areas covered in FOCCUS?

THE FOCCUS Inventory has over 150 questions with additional questions for remarriage, and interfaith and cohabiting couples. The areas are mixed through the inventory but are collated in the results:

FOCCUS Topics
Life-Style Expectations
Friends and Interests
Personality Match
Personal Issues
Communication
Problem-Solving
Religion and Values
Parenting Issues
Extended Family Issues
Sexuality Issues
Financial Issues
Readiness Issues
Marriage Covenant

Special Issues
Interfaith Marriages
Remarriage
Cohabiting Couples


Samples of Questions

A    D    U    We have discussed ideas about our future home.
A    D    U    I am concerned we will not have enough time to nourish our relationship.
A    D    U    We have identified the goals and ambitions we share.
A    D    U    My future spouse "always" has to win.

A - Agree
D - Disagree
U - Undecided


Additional Information

FOCCUS is designed to be used at three levels. The first level occurs when the individuals read and respond to the FOCCUS statements and when the couple subsequently discusses what they think and feel about the topics. This first level discussion is done before they receive the report of results. Preliminary thinking and sorting occurs during this time. Couples need a minimum of several days for this kind of personal discussion before they work with the report of their FOCCUS results. Time spent at this first level prepares the couple for the more problematic areas to be discussed at the second level; it often cuts down the processing time needed later with the facilitator.

The second level of use for FOCCUS occurs with the help of a facilitator. Using the couple report, the facilitator works with the couple to look at patterns in their responses, discuss issues, and problem solving. A Facilitator Manual is a support to the work at the second level of FOCCUS use.

The third level of FOCCUS use involves referrals of two kinds. The first referral is to a pre-marriage education program offered in groups to further discuss the areas in FOCCUS with additional topics and with input from facilitators for couples to consider and to practice skills in communication, decision making and negotiating roles. The second kind of referral is not needed by every couple and is for specialized assistance.

FOCCUS is user-friendly for both engaged couples and for those helping to prepare them for marriage. FOCCUS is an inventory that does not require a highly trained professional to administer it and it has minimal risk for being misused. There are several versions: General, Alternate, Christian Non-Denominational and Catholic. Questions dealing with spirituality, religion and values are worded differently in each of the four editions.