The Fairfield Medical Center class will teach women the tools to find Mr. Right, 10TV's Andrea Cambern reported.

Christy Morgan is studying photography in college as part of a new life after a brief marriage to her high school sweetheart ended in divorce.

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"Our spiritual beliefs didn't match. Our values didn't match," Morgan said. "Alcoholism has a little bit, had a big play in it."

Marriage counselor John Van Epp said too many couples are like Christy and her ex.

"By the time that they're ready to get married, they're already locked into their relationship," Van Epp said.

Van Epp said that too many couples get involved before learning important characteristics about each other.

Over time, they may realize that their partner is a jerk, Cambern reported.

"Here we're teaching all these professionals how to make assessments, well we don't teach all the singles how to make an assessment of what a person is like," Van Epp said.

So he developed a program being used around the country called "How to Avoid Falling for a Jerk," Cambern reported.

Van Epp said the one-day class gives people tools to look at themselves and their dates in a new way, and may keep them from repeating past mistakes.

The Fairfield Medical Center is offering the class on Valentine's Day weekend, Cambern reported.

Hospital educator Resa Tobin said it is a form of preventive medicine, because bad relationships can cause other problems, such as stress.

"We got involved with that because stress is going to worsen nearly all disease states," Tobin said. "It makes everything worse."

Morgan took the class two years ago, and said it has helped her make better choices, Cambern reported.

"Love is an important key, but you have to build up to that," Morgan said.  "You have to get the know the person, trust the person, rely on them."

Because jerks can come in both sexes, the class is open to men and women, Cambern reported.

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More Information:

Register for the "How to Avoid Falling for a Jerk" Program: 740-687-8007
           

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