When relationship support is rooted in strong science, the impact reaches far beyond individual couples it shapes families, communities, and the future of mental health care. This year, that work is receiving powerful national recognition.
The National Register of Health Service Psychologists has named Dr. Andrew Christensen the recipient of the 2025 Alfred M. Wellner Lifetime Achievement Award for Research, honoring decades of groundbreaking contributions that led to the development and refinement of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) and, ultimately, the creation of the OurRelationship program.
While the award highlights Dr. Christensen’s career, its significance extends directly to the evidence-based tools couples access today through IBCT and OurRelationship.
Why This Award Matters for Couples Everywhere
IBCT has transformed the field of couple therapy by shifting the focus from “fixing flaws” to promoting understanding, emotional acceptance, and meaningful change. Its innovative approach is built on years of research, clinical trials, and collaboration work that set a new standard for relationship interventions.
The OurRelationship program was developed to take these research-backed strategies and make them accessible to more couples and individuals through an online, flexible, and guided format. Today, thousands have benefited from a program grounded in the very research that this award celebrates.
This recognition by the National Register shines a spotlight on the scientific foundation that makes IBCT and OurRelationship uniquely effective:
- Decades of rigorous, federally funded research
- Validated outcomes showing real improvements in relationship satisfaction
- A proven structure that supports lasting change for couples and individuals
- An accessible model that reaches communities who may not otherwise receive care
By honoring the intellectual work behind IBCT, the award affirms the credibility and importance of accessible, evidence-based relationship support exactly what OurRelationship provides.
IBCT: A Model That Changes How Couples Heal
IBCT blends two powerful ideas:
1. Acceptance
Helping partners understand each other’s experiences, emotions, and histories without getting stuck in blame.
2. Behavior Change
Supporting couples in developing new, healthier ways of interacting and solving problems.
This dual focus makes IBCT flexible, compassionate, and deeply effective even for couples who feel “stuck,” disconnected, or overwhelmed by long-standing patterns.
The Wellner Award recognizes the research that built and tested this model, ensuring it is not only thoughtful in theory but transformative in practice.
How OurRelationship Brings This Research to Life
OurRelationship was created to take the proven principles of IBCT and deliver them in a format that:
- Works online and on your schedule
- Can be completed as a couple or as an individual
- Uses structured modules that mirror therapeutic best practices
- Provides coaching options for deeper support
- Helps couples apply IBCT strategies immediately in real-life situations
From communication patterns to conflict cycles to emotional reconnection, every step of the program is grounded in the research honored by this award.
The success stories from OurRelationship improved closeness, reduced conflict, better communication, and renewed partnership are a direct reflection of that scientific foundation.
What This Means for the Future of Relationship Support
As mental health care evolves, accessibility and evidence are more important than ever. This award validates the direction IBCT and OurRelationship have taken:
- Making effective interventions reachable for more diverse couples and families
- Providing research-backed support without the traditional barriers of therapy
- Continuing to innovate through digital relationship health tools
The recognition reinforces OurRelationship’s mission: to offer meaningful, scientifically grounded help to couples and individuals who deserve support, clarity, and connection no matter where they start.
Explore the Research-Backed Program Changing Relationships
If you’re interested in experiencing the tools and strategies behind this nationally recognized work, the OurRelationship program is a powerful place to start.
→ Learn more at: https://www.ourrelationship.com/
→ Read the National Register announcement: https://www.nationalregister.org/dr-andrew-christensen-named-winner-of-2025-alfred-m-wellner-lifetime-achievement-award-for-research/
Grounded in research. Built with care. Designed for real life.
We’re proud to continue the work that this award honors helping couples and individuals create healthier, stronger relationships every day.
