pre-marital
counseling
Premarital counseling supports couples to build a healthy and solid foundation ahead of the long-term commitment of marriage.
6-8 sessions
Marriage Commitments
In this session, couples will identify the meaning of their marriage commitment and the importance of honoring their vows. They will develop an understanding of what they are committing to in their marriage.
Roles, boundaries, and expectations
In session two, couples will explore what their views of roles within the relationship will be, boundaries around issues such as time, work, education, sex, hobbies, and friends. They will get real about their expectations of each other in the relationship.
children and parenting styles
In week three, couples discuss their expectations regarding career, spending, and finances. They will discuss spending habits, priorities, and financial goals for themselves and the family. Ideas for budgeting and financial responsibility will be presented to generate discussion.
career, budgeting, and finances
In week four, couples will discuss whether they want to have children, how many, and when they see it happening. They will discuss their preferred parenting style and compare perspectives to achieve a shared understanding regarding discipline, activities, school, religion, etc.
extended family relationships
In this week, couples will discuss what their ideal relationship with extended family is and how they see the new marriage incorporating those relationships. They will learn how to set healthy boundaries regarding the involvement of extended family in the marriage.
communication skills
During this week, couples will learn communication as a foundational tool for their long-term committed relationship. They will learn how to listen to understand, provide validation to one another, and achieve resolution through open conversation.
dealing with conflict
In this week, couples will learn how to deal with conflict and resolve issues that seem impossible to overcome. They will assess their willingness to compromise and learn ways to see problems through each other’s eyes.
maintaining intimacy
In the final week, couples will make a plan to keep intimacy as a central focus in their relationship. They will learn ways to improve all 7 types of intimacy and prepare for a lifetime of closeness and connection.