Common questions.

Marriage Academy is four months with one Gospel-centered book, shared with a small group of couples. The group meets once a month, in a home (usually over a meal) or online by video. In between, each couple works through three things together: the reading (about a quarter of the book, to read or listen to, with a few questions to talk through), a Date Night (a short set of questions to take out with you), and a message to watch with a few questions. Marking something done takes one tap, and there's never a box you have to fill in.

Marriage Academy is written for married couples, and it's done in a small group of couples. Your group can be friends from one church, several churches, or none in particular. The books and messages come from a Gospel-centered, broadly conservative Christian tradition, and some of them hold a complementarian view of marriage roles. Each Academy's description tells you its tone and what to expect. If your marriage is in a hard season, you're welcome here, and we'd encourage you to also talk with your pastor or a biblical counselor (see What if something hard comes up?).

Marriage Academy is designed for the two of you to work through together, but you don't have to begin with equal enthusiasm. Talk with your spouse about why this interests you and what you hope for, and invite them rather than pressuring them. One of you can create the account, but this isn't a way to work on or change your spouse without their involvement; it invites each of you to look at your own heart. If your spouse isn't ready, your pastor or a biblical counselor can help you decide what to do next.

The monthly group meeting runs about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of your group. Plan on about an hour a week for the reading, the Date Night and the message in between; you choose when, and each one is marked done with a tap. Think of it as regular time set aside for your marriage.

No. Our programs are Christian discipleship built on Scripture, run by a ministry. They are not licensed counseling, therapy, or medical care. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 or dial 911. If you'd like more intensive help with your marriage, your pastor or a biblical counselor can walk with you.

Pick any one; the Academies don't build on each other, so there's no right order. Each description on the Academies list names the book's tone, how explicit it is about sex, and its length and whether it comes with audio. Couples who finish one are welcome to start another later; we'd suggest one at a time. As you choose, think about the couples you plan to invite and which Academy would suit them best.

The person who starts the group pays $20 once, and it covers the whole group for all four months. It's a single payment, not a subscription. The couples they invite pay nothing; their only cost is the book. The $20 covers everything the Academy provides: the Leader Guides for whoever is leading, the questions for every activity and group meeting across the four months, and reminders by text or email.

No, the book isn't included. It's the only other cost, for you and for the couples you invite. You can read it or listen to it, and some Academies note an audio version in their description.

If you request a refund at least 24 hours before your group's scheduled first meeting, we will refund your fee in full. To request a refund, email support@soulcareacademy.com.

If we cancel your group or cannot provide the program you purchased, we will provide a full refund of the enrollment fee. Refunds will be issued to the original payment method whenever possible.

We suggest two to six couples in all, counting your own, so you'd invite one to five other couples. That range keeps the monthly meeting to about an hour and a half or less.

Yes. Each group works through one Academy and its book together for four months. Choose the book before you invite couples, so everyone knows what they'll be reading and can decide whether it's a good fit.

The leader hosts the group and guides the discussion: welcomes everyone, asks the questions, listens, and prays. No special training or expertise is required, and leaders are encouraged to point couples to their pastor or a biblical counselor when something is beyond what a group can help with.

Whoever leads receives a Leader Guide each month and a Leader Reference page, and preparing for each meeting takes about 10 to 20 minutes. You choose the date and place, and we give you one invitation link to send to the couples you'd like to invite.

As the leader, you can see who has accepted and whether each couple has marked their activities done, but never what they wrote.

Each meeting follows a simple rhythm: a welcome and the ground rules, an opening question for each couple, a few discussion questions, and a closing time of prayer. The Leader Guide gives the leader the questions and the plan, so there's no lesson to prepare and no one has to teach. It's a conversation, not a lecture or a counseling session, and it's fine for a good meeting to end with conversations unfinished.

Yes. The leader supplies the video link (FaceTime, Jitsi Meet, or a service they already use); Soul Care Academy doesn't provide video. Some free plans end a call after 40 or 60 minutes, and meetings run 60 to 90, so it's worth checking your service's limit before you choose.

Couples can join with the leader's invitation link until the group's first meeting.

No. One of you can create the account, and your spouse can join later or not at all; an account is how you sign in and keep track of your progress. Marriage Academy itself is designed for the two of you to work through together, so we encourage you to invite your spouse to take part, whether or not they create an account. You sign in with a code sent by text or email, or with Google, so there's no password to remember.

Only what you choose to share. No one is required to answer a question or pray aloud. Every group begins with four ground rules: protect one another's stories, speak for yourself rather than explaining your spouse's faults, feel free to pass, and listen to connect.

We ask everyone to respect one another's privacy and not repeat personal stories outside the group. However, because this is a group of participants rather than a confidential counseling relationship, we cannot guarantee that everything shared will remain private. Please share only what you are comfortable having others know.

If a concern arises involving a child's safety, abuse, a serious threat, or immediate danger, a leader may need to seek help or disclose information as required by law or necessary to protect someone from serious harm.

Your notes and answers are available to you and your spouse through your accounts. Your group leader can see whether an activity has been marked complete, but cannot read your written responses through the group's normal features. Other couples in your group cannot see your notes or answers.

Authorized Soul Care Academy administrators and technical personnel may be able to access stored responses when working on the platform, maintaining or troubleshooting the service, addressing security issues, or responding to legal requirements. We limit this access to authorized personnel and legitimate operational needs.

Because your spouse can read your notes, write only what you're comfortable sharing with them. Please also remember that group discussions are not a confidential counseling relationship, and we cannot guarantee that other participants will keep everything shared in the group private. See our Privacy Policy for more information about how we handle your information.

We send text messages only for the purposes you've agreed to: one-time sign-in codes when you request them, and group reminders if you separately opt in to those messages. Providing your phone number alone does not sign you up for group reminders.

Group reminders may include meeting reminders and prompts about the month's assignments, up to about four messages a month while your group is running. Message and data rates may apply.

Reply STOP to stop messages from that text-message program, or HELP for assistance. You can also email support@soulcareacademy.com to request that we stop texting you. Turning off texts does not close your account; you can still sign in by email. Email reminders are also available if you prefer them.

Life gets busy, and that's okay. Nothing is graded, and you can pick up where you can and keep going. Use the material to start good conversations rather than to add pressure. Your leader can see whether an activity is marked done, never what you wrote.

Groups change, and that's okay. If a couple misses a meeting or steps away, we encourage the leader to reach out kindly to each spouse and ask what would help, not why they weren't there. The group can carry on with the couples who remain.

Some things are bigger than a monthly group, and that's what your pastor or a biblical counselor are for. Your leader has a Leader Reference page for hard moments, and leaders are told they never have to handle something hard alone. If anyone is in crisis, call or text 988. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Your readings and notes stay open for 30 days after your group finishes. After that, your written notes and your leader's messages to your couple are cleared from our systems; your account and the record that you completed the group are kept, so you can see your Academy history if you sign in later. See our Privacy Policy for the full retention schedule. We'll send a wrap-up email that points to the other Academies and to our Stay Connected page. If you'd like, you can lead a new group of your own.

Write to support@soulcareacademy.com, call (323) 736-2461, or use the Contact page. If you lead a church or ministry and are thinking about several groups, tell us and we'll be glad to talk it through.

It costs nothing, and your only expense is the book your group has chosen. For four months you'll work through the book, a Date Night and a message each month, and meet monthly with your group. One of you can create the account to get started, though the program is designed for the two of you to do together. Next you'll sign in with a code sent by text or email, or with Google, and the address of the meeting appears (or the link, if the group meets online) after you join. Wondering what the meetings are like? See What happens during the monthly group meeting? and Will I have to share personal things in front of the group?