Premarital Counseling in Michigan
Pre-commitment therapy for couples just getting started.
It’s not uncommon for couples to experience a tug of war between hope and hesitation. Those feelings of hope and happiness of a dream being fulfilled sometimes are rudely interrupted by nagging hesitation and fear as you wonder if your relationship will beat the odds and stand the test of time. Thankfully, you paid attention to that tension and are ready to get busy and prepare for your life together.
What does couples counseling, before marriage, engagement, or commitment look like?
Think of it as an education about how to establish a healthy marriage - a relationship that has a huge impact on you, your partner, and future generations. And unlike many premarital counseling options, because of my training and experience as a therapist, you have the option to dig a little deeper to explore what barriers there may be to the love story you long to write.
Here are the two packages I offer - both of which are excellent options:
Level One: 5 Sessions
This edition of premarital counseling focuses on the work of Drs. John and Julie Gottman. Together we’ll learn the ingredients of a vibrant, thriving marriage and how to cultivate those ingredients. While it is based on the text Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman, I also weave in specific science-based Gottman marriage therapy interventions (not included in the book) that equip you to find your way through conflict and build emotional intimacy. And if you want to take it up a notch, both partners will greatly benefit from reading the book and accepting weekly challenges based on your needs as a couple.
Level Two: 8 Sessions
This option pairs the best of both worlds: the Gottman Method for Couples and SYMBIS. The first three sessions will be spent on exploring how you each uniquely engage with the world; from your personality dynamics to your deepest longings as we unpack your SYMBIS assessment results (see below for more information). Then we’ll dive into the work of Drs. John and Julie Gottman (see description in Level One). And if you want to further solidy this investment, you can commit to reading the book Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work and participating in weekly challenges chosen with your specific relationship make-up in mind.
SYMBIS Premarital Therapy
Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS) is a HIPAA -compliant online assessment that is grounded in research. You’ll get valid and reliable results and practical insights that provide a map giving you the lay of the land regarding your relationship.
Each partner will be invited to privately complete the assessment online. With results in hand, we’ll survey your relationship; the areas of strength along with the vulnerable spots which almost every couple have and walk away with practical applications resulting in a happy and healthier you. Afterwards, you’ll get a copy of the assessment results to use as a reference moving forward.
The Gottman Method for Couples is considered by many marriage therapists to be the gold standard for marriage counseling. If you are familiar with the Gottman Method, you can review the level of training I’ve completed. If you’re not familiar with the Gottman Method, stay tuned for a blog post on one of my favorite approaches to marriage counseling.
Regardless, whether you’re a well-researched Gotman devotee or open to evidence-based yet personal methods of marriage counseling, I am confident that my training and experience will help you and your partner write the love story you long to write.