I Am ME: Pam Weber, St. Louis, Missouri

“I Am ME” profiles people teaching relationship and marriage education classes in their local communities. We call this series “I Am ME,” both because “ME” is an acronym for “Marriage Education” and in honor of a poem about self-esteem written by the late Virginia Satir, a pioneer in the field of marriage and relationship education.

Pam Weber lives in St. Louis, Missouri and has a 27-year-old son serving in the military. She has been in a loving relationship for three and a half years, which she largely credits to her participation in PAIRS (“Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills”) semester long program with her mentors, Bill and Linda Wing. Pam received her Master’s Degree in Social Work and is completing her LCSW supervision in October at the Relationship Center of St. Louis. She is committed to providing compassionate, respectful, heartfelt understanding for people facing life’s issues. Pam says her goal is to successfully guide individuals, couples, parents, and families through problems and into solutions.

1.       What led you to want to teach marriage enrichment classes?

Having lived through the heartache of divorce and how it affected my family, I desperately searched for a solution to never have to walk through that pain again. My own participation in a relationship education class inspired me to want to share the powerful knowledge I had gained.

2.     What are some of the unique challenges facing couples/families today?

I think that we are living in such a busy world and schedules are so packed that we feel the stress in that. Partners can sometimes feel overwhelmed or frustrated and then take that out on each other without realizing that it is not about our partner. When couples don’t have the practical skills to vent those frustrations, the challenge is to recognize where the feelings are coming from.

3.     How has being an instructor affected your family?

Teaching the PAIRS skills and really internalizing the philosophy has helped me to remain calm in stressful situations. That has enabled me to respond, at challenging moments, from a place of compassion and love instead of reacting from a place of fear and defensiveness.

4.     What are some favorite hobbies you enjoy as a family?

One of my favorite hobbies as a couple is hiking in the woods while we have meaningful conversations. I am also a runner and I enjoy running with my son when he is home visiting.

5.     What qualities would you like your family to most admire about you?

My peacefulness and serenity, my sense of compassion, and my willingness to listen with an open heart.

Contact Information:

The Relationship Center of St. Louis

Editor’s Note: If you’d like us to feature a Relationship and Marriage Educator in your community, please e-mail their name, contact information, and a brief statement about why you’d like to see them profiled on the FatherhoodChannel.com to editor@fatherhoodchannel.com.