Get Better Together weekend for military couples
Official title: Better Together: A Relationship Enrichment Program Targeting Transdiagnostic Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Among Military Couples
Run by Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine · NCT07096271 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program tests whether a weekend Get Better Together retreat helps military couples improve relationship skills and mental health and reduce problems like alcohol misuse, aggression, and suicide risk.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1000 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Bethesda, Maryland) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 22, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 2027 |
| Study ends | July 2028 |
| Registry record updated | October 20, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07096271 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Committed romantic couples together at least six months with at least one active-duty service member, both aged 18 or older, who can attend a weekend retreat and have not previously attended a similar relationship retreat are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
Couples who cannot attend the in-person retreat, decline consent, lack required command endorsement, or have severe/acute safety concerns (for example severe intimate partner violence) may not receive benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Couples are randomly assigned to attend a weekend in-person Get Better Together relationship retreat or to continue usual activities and later receive access to an online relationship program. The program focuses on relationship education and skills to help partners manage life stressors together. All participants complete surveys at baseline and again 2, 4, and 6 months after enrollment to track mental health, relationship functioning, alcohol use, aggression, and suicide-related risk. Eligible couples must be in a committed relationship of at least six months with at least one active-duty service member and be able to attend a scheduled retreat.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could strengthen relationships, reduce behavioral and mental-health problems, and offer a scalable prevention option for military couples.
How similar studies have gone: Related relationship-education programs such as Strong Bonds and CREDO have shown improvements in relationship skills and some mental health outcomes in military and civilian samples, though effects on suicide risk, alcohol misuse, and IPV are less consistently demonstrated.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Couple is in a committed romantic relationship of at least six months * At least one partner is a military Service member on active duty * Both partners are age 18 or older * Couple has not previously attended a relationship enrichment retreat or workshop together (e.g., CREDO, Strong Bonds, BSRT). This does not include couples therapy or pre-marital counseling. Exclusion Criteria: * One or both partners decline to provide informed consent * Required command endorsement for retreat attendance is not received (for Service members E-6 and below) * Couple is unable or unwilling to attend any of the scheduled retreats during the study period
Where it's running
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Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Bethesda, Maryland, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Sarah Carter, Ph.D. — Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine
- Study coordinator: Sarah Carter, Ph.D.
- Email: GetBetterTogether@usuhs.edu
- Phone: 301-400-5675
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.