OurRelationship: breaking barriers to relationship support with Totara

The OurRelationship programme, launched in 2012, helps couples better understand and address relationship challenges through either a self-guided version or sessions with a qualified relationship coach. Led by Dr Brian Doss at the University of Miami, the programme supports more than 3 million couples, collaborating with organisations to improve communication, intimacy, and trust.

The Challenge

The University of Miami observed that many couples face relationship difficulties that affect their mental and physical health, yet most do not seek help. To reach more couples while maintaining the effectiveness of traditional therapy, the university set out to create an inclusive and adaptable digital intervention with four key requirements:

1. The platform needed to integrate two user accounts (one per partner) with a shared backend system to combine data and feedback, generating tailored recommendations for each couple.

2. It had to customise content for participants based on whether they joined with or without their partner, their demographic group, and their specific relationship challenges.

3. Coaches required visibility into each couple’s progress and a management interface to guide coaching sessions effectively.

4. The system had to be versatile and scalable, offering self-registration, automation, social and interactive coaching tools, and a personalised user experience.

The team also sought a single technology partner capable of supporting their full vision—from platform development to content strategy.

The Solution

Totara Learn provided the flexibility and range of features needed to meet these goals. The programme delivers 8–10 hours of tailored content to help couples address stress and communication challenges. Accessible via mobile, tablet, or desktop, the platform allows couples to work independently or with a coach, improving both accessibility and personalisation.

Coaches access participant evaluations, session notes, and next steps through an intuitive dashboard. Totara’s notification system helps couples stay on track with activity reminders, while the built-in scheduler simplifies booking sessions. Together, these features create a streamlined experience for both coaches and participants.

Totara’s reporting and visibility tools allow the University of Miami team to monitor engagement, analyse outcomes, and refine the couple’s journey. The platform’s adaptability has also supported continued growth, including the launch of a mobile app that allows couples without computers to fully participate anywhere, at any time.

Totara’s configurable design and user-friendly interface have enabled OurRelationship to deliver a highly engaging and scalable programme that supports couples in improving their relationships on their own terms.

Results

OurRelationship has achieved consistently strong engagement and satisfaction. Ninety-four per cent of participants report high satisfaction with the service, and 97% would recommend it to a friend. Completion rates range from 63% to 86%, demonstrating sustained engagement.

Supported by over 15 years of research, the programme has run randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with more than 5,000 couples, producing over 48 peer-reviewed publications. A trial involving 300 couples showed measurable improvements in relationship quality and satisfaction, along with reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms and enhanced work performance. These benefits extend to families and children, contributing to overall wellbeing.

Since implementing Totara Learn, the programme has seen a more than 100% increase in partners and reached over 10,000 couples. It has gained national recognition, including coverage in ScienceDirect, and now serves over 3 million couples.

Totara Learn’s scalability and robust tracking tools have allowed the team to manage enrolment, monitor progress, and expand nationwide. This success directly supported a five-year federal grant from the Administration for Children and Families, enabling OurRelationship to offer its programme to 2,500 low-income couples annually at no cost.

Totara Learn also provides personalised feedback using conditional text and graphs based on assessment data. Content dynamically adapts to each couple’s unique circumstances through interactive questions and assessments. This data is securely stored to inform future recommendations, continuous improvement, and ongoing research.

Today, 52% of couples who complete the programme report that they no longer need traditional couples therapy. Totara Learn continues to play a vital role in supporting OurRelationship’s mission to improve relationship and mental health outcomes for couples and families across the United States.