T.A.I.L. Connection encourages couples to invest in love before the crisis

More than 30 couples from Jamaica and the diaspora have already registered for T.A.I.L. Connection, a new relationship and marriage initiative encouraging couples to become more intentional about their relationships, strengthen communication, and deepen their connection.

Launched virtually on Sunday, August 23, 2026, the initiative is the latest programme of Talk About It Limited (T.A.I.L.), founded by Dr Courtney Faulknor and his wife, Suzette. T.A.I.L. Connection, an acronym for ‘Together Always In Love’, is designed to create a supportive community where couples can learn, grow, and intentionally invest in their marriages.

For the Faulknors, the initiative is deeply personal. Married for almost three decades, they have experienced the joys and challenges of building a life together and now serve as marriage counsellors, marriage officers and ministers.

“After almost three decades of marriage, we have experienced the beauty of love, but we have also learned that a healthy marriage does not happen by accident. It requires intentionality, communication, forgiveness, sacrifice, and, importantly, choosing each other over and over again,” Dr Faulknor said.

He explained that T.A.I.L. Connection grew out of both their personal journey and their professional calling. “We wanted to create a safe and intentional community where couples could invest in their relationships, have meaningful conversations, and be reminded that marriage is something worth nurturing,” he said.

overlooked warning signsRather than focusing only on repairing relationships in distress, the programme seeks to help couples strengthen relationships that are already functioning well.

According to Dr Faulknor, one of the most overlooked warning signs in a relationship is disconnection. Couples may continue living together, raising children, managing finances, and navigating everyday responsibilities while gradually losing their emotional connection.

Other warning signs include avoiding difficult conversations, communicating only about responsibilities, spending less quality time together, becoming easily irritated with each other, and feeling more comfortable sharing thoughts with someone outside the marriage than with one’s spouse.

The problem, he said, is that couples can normalise these behaviors until they develop into much larger issues. T.A.I.L. Connection promotes what the Faulknors describe as intentional investment, giving the relationship attention before a crisis develops.

That can include having regular conversations that go beyond bills and children, scheduling time together, praying together, improving communication skills, seeking counselling when necessary, and simply asking a spouse, “How are we doing?”

“We often invest heavily in our careers, homes, children, and finances, but the marriage itself can sometimes receive whatever time and energy are left over. T.A.I.L. Connection is about changing that mindset,” Dr Faulknor said.

The programme will address communication, emotional connection, intimacy, conflict resolution, spirituality, and relationship wellness. While the challenges couples face are often interconnected, Dr Faulknor believes communication and emotional connection are frequently at the heart of many relationship difficulties.

“When communication breaks down, intimacy suffers. When emotional connection weakens, conflict becomes more difficult to manage,” he explained.

That means learning to listen without immediately becoming defensive, talking about feelings rather than simply pointing out what a spouse is doing wrong, and addressing problems while they are still manageable.

He also encourages couples to understand that intimacy extends beyond the physical.

“Intimacy is broader than the physical. It includes emotional, spiritual, and intellectual intimacy. You should still be curious about your spouse even after many years of marriage,” he said.

For couples of faith, spirituality can also provide an important foundation through prayer, shared values, and seeking God’s direction for the relationship.

practical guidanceThe response to the launch has been encouraging, with more than 30 couples already registering to become part of T.A.I.L. Connection.

For the Faulknors, that response confirms that couples are looking for practical tools, support, and opportunities to strengthen their relationships.

“We were particularly encouraged because T.A.I.L. Connection is not simply about creating another programme. We are trying to build a community of couples who believe their relationships are worth investing in,” Dr Faulknor said.

The programme will meet virtually every other month, with periodic face-to-face activities. The first official session is scheduled for October 24 at 6:30 p.m., featuring author and health coach Lezanne Azan, who will serve as guest facilitator.

Couples will have opportunities to participate in meaningful discussions and receive practical guidance while building relationships with others on a similar journey.

T.A.I.L. Connection offers two membership options. The Standard Membership is free and provides access to virtual sessions every other month, general updates, and a priority prayer-request access line.

The T.A.I.L. Partner Membership, priced at $6,000 per couple annually, includes priority access and discounted rates for couples counselling, psychosocial and spiritual check-ins, discounts on programmes and retreats, giveaways, and other partner benefits, including opportunities such as hotel day passes, spa days, and fully paid date nights.

Couples can receive 50 per cent off Partner Membership until September 30, 2026.

For the Faulknors, nearly three decades of marriage have reinforced the understanding that lasting love requires more than feelings. “Perhaps the greatest lesson is that love is a decision as much as it is a feeling,” Dr Faulknor said.

There are seasons when marriage feels easy, he acknowledged, but there are also seasons that demand greater patience, sacrifice, forgiveness, and intentionality. The couple has also learned the importance of maintaining friendship within the marriage.

“You don’t stop dating each other because you got married. You have to continue discovering each other, creating memories, making time for one another, and protecting the friendship at the heart of the marriage.”

He encourages couples experiencing difficulties not to suffer in silence or wait until their relationship reaches breaking point before seeking help. “Having challenges does not necessarily mean your marriage has failed. Sometimes it means your marriage needs attention,” he said.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com