Imagine your marriage where disagreements bring you closer together instead of driving you apart. Where even the hardest conversations are met with calm, respect, and care. When you learn to fight fair, you don’t just resolve conflict—you build trust, deepen connection, and remind yourselves that you’re on the same team.
On the evening of Friday, August 15, couples across the Northshore—and beyond—will gather from the comfort of their own homes for an online marriage seminar that promises to be as practical as it is powerful.
Hosted by Dr. Jerry Pounds of Concierge Counseling of Mandeville, “Fair Fighting: How to Resolve Conflicts and Communicate Effectively for a Stronger, Healthier Marriage” offers couples a rare opportunity to confront one of marriage’s most challenging realities: conflict.
Turning Conflict Into Connection
This isn’t your typical clinical Zoom session. It’s relaxed, real, and designed for everyone—from newlyweds still learning each other’s rhythms to longtime spouses ready to refresh and re-strengthen their bond.
“In every marriage,” says Dr. Pounds, “there will be disagreements. That doesn’t mean your relationship is broken. In fact, how you fight may reveal just how committed you are to making it work.”
With over 40 years of experience in counseling, writing, and speaking, Dr. Pounds brings a lifetime of wisdom to this two-hour event.
A Licensed Professional Counselor in multiple states and an EMDR Certified Therapist, Dr. Pounds was born and raised in New Orleans. He received his bachelor’s degree from Samford University, a master's from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and his doctorate in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University.
But what makes him most compelling isn’t his résumé—it’s his heart for couples and his belief that even long-standing conflict can become a doorway to deeper intimacy.
A Marriage Built to Last
Dr. Pounds and his wife, Bayne, met as college freshmen and just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on a family cruise to Alaska—a testament to the enduring power of commitment and healthy communication.
The seminar is based on a simple but profound premise: your spouse isn’t your opponent—the issue is. Through stories, guided exercises, and a gentle blend of humor and insight, Dr. Pounds helps couples reframe their view of conflict not as a crisis to fear, but as an opportunity to grow.
Tools for Real-Life Love
Participants will be equipped with real-life tools to communicate clearly, listen with empathy, identify emotional triggers, and avoid the trap of “winning” at the cost of connection.
“Fair Fighting” teaches couples how to pause and respond instead of react, how to use “I” statements instead of blame, and how to foster emotional safety even during difficult conversations. Whether it’s money, intimacy, in-laws, or old wounds that tend to spark new tension, this seminar meets couples right where they are—and walks them forward, together.
And best of all? You can do it in your favorite chair with a cup of tea. No hotels. No microphones. Just you, your spouse, and a down-to-earth guide who’s spent decades helping couples find their way back to each other.
“Some couples worry they fight too much,” Dr. Pounds says. “But what matters isn’t the number of arguments—it’s the way you handle them. Healthy couples don’t avoid conflict. They learn to move from gridlock to dialogue.”
That shift—toward unity, compassion, and mutual understanding—is what makes “Fair Fighting” different. Each participant will receive a Listening Guide and access to a replay of the seminar, along with downloadable handouts and exercises designed to deepen the experience in the weeks that follow. It’s not a one-night fix—it’s the first step in the journey toward a stronger marriage.
The value? Just $97 per couple, and for a limited time, early bird registration is open for only $57.
“We want to make this accessible to as many couples as possible,” says Dr. Pounds. “If you’ve been struggling, you’re not alone. And if you feel like you’ve grown distant, there’s still time to rebuild trust. The best time to start is today.”
Space is limited, and early registration is recommended. To learn more or reserve your spot, visit ccmandeville.com or contact the office at (985) 789-7146.
So many couples walk through marriage carrying unspoken hurts, unresolved tension, and the quiet fear that maybe it’s always going to be this way. Dr. Pounds offers a different vision—one where respect replaces resentment and spouses learn to listen with both their ears and their hearts.
Because in the end, love isn’t about never fighting. It’s about learning how to fight fair—and choosing each other, again and again.
“Fighting fair means protecting the relationship, not just proving a point.”
“Your spouse isn’t your opponent—the issue is.”