Marriage Preparation Counseling

In recent years, there has been a deepening appreciation for the
benefits of pre-marital or marriage preparation counseling for engaged
or newly married couples. Many who come to me are alarmed by the
grim statistics predicting a 50% failure rate or have witnessed first-hand
the pain and trauma of their parents’ failed marriages. The good news is, research shows that you can increase your odds of success by preparing for it, either before you marry or within the first year of marriage. You can learn skills and acquire insights into what makes for a successful marriage and a happy, healthy and satisfying relationship.

Goals of this counseling often include: building and nurturing fondness, admiration and respect, increasing understanding and knowledge of their partner and themselves, learning to communicate more effectively, improve conflict-resolution skills, enhance emotional and physical intimacy, and create a dynamic, equal partnership based on trust and openness.

I typically use a comprehensive questionnaire to begin. Areas of inquiry include:

Together we identify the areas most important to focus on and create a plan for the work. The process often includes homework assignments that are designed to enhance the learning process. The approach is generally psycho-educational, structured and short-term.