Premarital Counseling
In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world, there is no love for you like mine.
– Maya Angelou
As you plan for your big day, don’t forget to lay the foundation for a lifetime of connection.
For engaged couples, I offer a six- to eight-week experience centered around the
Prepare/Enrich curriculum. Couples visit an online portal to take an assessment. Scores are then tallied to identify areas of potential disagreement over issues such as financial management, sexual expectations, household roles, and the involvement of extended family and friends. These compatibility scales have high levels of reliability and validity and have been normed on over 500,000 premarital couples. Is premarital counseling for you?
As we talk through your assessment results, we discuss areas for growth and process areas of possible struggle. I place special emphasis on communication and conflict resolution skills as understanding your typical communication pattern—and every couple has one—will equip you
to identify and alter a negative feedback loop when it occurs.
Being proactive about communication will help you make a strong start as you begin life together. Without awareness, couples get stuck in a cycle of criticism and defensiveness or in a pattern of pursuit and withdrawal. Once you know your unique dance steps, you can choose new moves and recognize your partner’s actions as a misguided plea for emotional safety—rather than labeling their responses as annoying, manipulative, or controlling.
We also consider how each individual’s story thus far—shaped by his or her family of origin and experiences—determines what issues are brought into the marriage. Understanding individual personality type is also crucial as it sparks discussion about the strengths and weaknesses each
brings to the marriage. Based on type, you see life through a different lens from your partner. Knowing your partner’s personality will move you toward empathy for their point of view, instead of judgment. It will allow you to see the beautiful ways your attributes complement one another and will also put ongoing struggles in perspective.
After spending time and money making the big day perfect, it makes sense to spend a little of both to build a strong foundation for the next fifty years together. Many couples also see value in getting to know a marriage therapist who can provide ongoing support if more serious issues
arise down the road.
If you live near Woodstock and are currently engaged, I’d love to meet you. Many couples find premarital counseling to be an enjoyable experience that deepens the joy they feel in committing to each other.
Premarital Counseling for Woodstock, Ga
Premarital Counseling FAQ
Our relationship is great. No problems yet. Why should we come in for counseling?
You are in a state of wellness, growth, and positive expectation. What better time to deepen your connection? You’ll give yourself a solid start as you enter marriage and also establish a pattern of communicating openly about sensitive topics. You’ll set a precedent for talking early and often about concerns rather than repressing emotion or letting an issue spiral out of control before you address it.
Why did you choose the Prepare/Enrich curriculum?
For over thirty years, Prepare/Enrich has helped engaged couples say “I do” with more confidence. A researched-based and scientifically proven online assessment rates your level of agreement in eight areas, which become our roadmap for session topics:
Conflict Management, Open Communication, Money Matters, Parenting Sense, Extended family roles, Sexual Satisfaction, Personalities Uncovered, and Reaching Goals.
How many sessions are recommended?
Georgia offers a discount on your marriage license if you complete six-plus hours of premarital counseling. Contact the State for details.
I recommend six to eight sessions as this gives us time to work through all session topics while also exploring your unique issues or concerns. You can choose weekly or bi-weekly sessions, depending on how much time you have before the ceremony.
Why Choose New Story Counseling?
Jennifer is a wife and mother who has walked through many of the struggles she sees in her office. She connects with empathy as she guides clients through the strong emotions that so often accompany family life. She knows what it means to feel stuck between how you thought life would be and how it currently is. If you are near Woodstock and need marriage counselling, call for a consult today.