Premarital
Counseling . . . . . .
What is pre-marital
counseling? If
you're reading this, it's likely that you're about to embark on a new life
with someone special. Pre-marital counseling is one way to help insure
that your love is protected in ways that help it flourish and grow.
By taking the time to explore the reasons
you came together, your similarities, your differences, your hopes and
your dreams, as well as your expectations of one another, it is
sometimes possible to avoid the disappointments that many couples face
with the passage of time.
Pre-marital counseling offers the
opportunity to explore your differences in a relatively safe,
supportive, constructive environment. And while some couples may choose
to postpone their union until key differences can be resolved, most
couples find that pre-marital counseling helps to prepare them for the
kind of life they would like to build together.
What happens in
pre-marital counseling?
There is no one standard program for pre-marital counseling. Pre-marital
counseling programs differ in everything from the number and length of
sessions provided to their content and configuration (i.e., whether
counselors meet with individuals in a relationship or if they simply
meet with the couple as a whole). As with most forms of therapy,
pre-marital counselors and clergyman typically personalize their
approach to accommodate their own personal style and the needs of the
people they serve.
After twenty-plus years of doing couples
counseling, I've developed a healthy respect for the fragility of
relationships that is reflected in the pre-marital counseling model I
have chosen. My work has led me to believe that most relationships fail
for one of two reasons: 1) people are unaware of or choose to ignore
core differences in who they are and what the want from life; 2) and
perhaps more importantly, people lack the skills to resolve their
differences and grow through the inevitable disappointments that life hands
them. It is my belief that many otherwise wonderful relationships fail
because people are both unaware of their differences and lack the skills
to resolve them in constructive ways.
Pre-marital
Counseling Model. My model of pre-marital counseling evolved
in an effort to address the threats to happiness outlined above through
a combination of:
- Assessment and exploration of
personal goals and individual differences
- Skills training in key
relationship areas and
- Development of a long-term plan of
action to help you keep your love alive.
You will be asked to complete surveys
designed to identify your similarities, differences, personal strengths,
personal weaknesses and expectations of your relationship; to review
essential relationship skills and practice them between sessions; and
actively participate in the development of an ongoing plan to help you
protect your love.
How often will
you need to come? I
typically ask people to commit to at least five 50 minute sessions for
pre-marital counseling. The actual number of sessions can vary upward or
downward depending on your previous relationship experience, skill
level, goals and/or present concerns.
The cost of the basic five session program
is $1,050.00. Additional sessions are available at $200.00 per session.
Feel free to contact me at my office for
more information: (425) 455-5400.
