Premarital Counseling

in NY, IA, GA, PA & all PsyPact states

Congratulations on taking the first step towards building a strong and resilient foundation for your marriage!

Marriage can be a beautiful journey filled with love, companionship, and shared dreams. Yet, amidst the excitement of planning a wedding and envisioning a future together, many couples may overlook the importance of laying a solid foundation for their union. This is where premarital counseling steps in – a valuable resource that offers couples the opportunity to strengthen their bond, enhance communication, and proactively address potential challenges before saying "I do."

  • Premarital counseling is designed to help couples prepare for marriage and build a strong foundation for their future together.

    During premarital counseling, we will engage in discussions, exercises, and activities aimed at exploring various aspects of your relationship and preparing you for the challenges and joys of married life.

    Topics commonly addressed in premarital counseling include communication skills, conflict resolution strategies, financial planning, intimacy and sexuality, family dynamics, roles and expectations, and personal values and goals.

    The goal of premarital counseling is to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourselves and each other, identify potential areas of conflict or concern, and learn practical skills for building a healthy and fulfilling marriage.

    Within a non-judgemental and supportive environment, we will address any lingering doubts or fears you may have about marriage, and work through any issues or differences before they become major problems in your relationship.

PREPARE/ENRICH Assessment Tool

The PREPARE/ENRICH assessment is a widely used tool in premarital counseling and relationship enrichment programs. It offers numerous benefits for couples who are preparing for marriage or seeking to strengthen their relationship.

I am certified to use the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment and enjoy combining its structure with my trainings in the Gottman Method and Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy to provide a holistic experience for premarital couples.

Couples will complete the PREPARE/ENRICH assessments online, independently at their homes, before our second session together. I will receive a report with your scores that we can use to guide the focus of our subsequent sessions. I will also provide you a couples summary report for you to keep that highlights your unique strength and growth areas.

    • Enhance communication skills and reduce misunderstandings

    • Skillfully and quickly resolve conflicts

    • Discuss financial planning

    • Share your needs related to intimacy and sexuality

    • Explore family dynamics and boundaries

    • Clarify role expectations and responsibilities

    • Strengthen your bond

    • Reaffirm trust and safety

A Safe Space to Explore & Enhance Your Partnership

While the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment provides a nice guide and structure for areas to explore, premarital counseling is still not one-size-fits-all. We will explore your specific goals and needs to create a personalized plan for our work together.

I have worked with couples in open-relationships who practice consensual non-monogamy or identify as polyamorous, LGBTQ+ couples, and couples in the swinging/kink communities.

You deserve to create a partnership that works well for everyone involved and fits your specific definition of healthy, happy, and safe.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about premarital counseling

  • Premarital counseling is a good fit for you and your partner if:

    You are willing to invest in the overall health of your partnership.

    You are open to communicating honestly

    You want to discuss and be on the same page about goals and expectations

    You want to explore past relationship experiences that impact how you interact now

    You are interested in growth and deep understanding

    You are open to professional guidance and suggestions

    There are not factors such as active abuse, addiction, self-harm, or psychosis

  • Online premarital counseling offers convenience, flexibility, and privacy, allowing you to engage in meaningful discussions and exercises from the comfort of your own home.

  • It’s up to you and your goals for counseling. Depending on how much you would like to explore, expand, and strengthen, couples can meet for 2 sessions and beyond.

  • We’ll start with a 20-minute phone consultation to see if we are a good fit to work together.

    If we proceed, I’ll email you both the information to get started including the links to complete the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment.

A healthy relationship right from the start