Pre-Marital Counseling
Pre-marital counseling is designed to help couples prepare for marriage by strengthening their relationship, enhancing communication, and addressing important topics before making a lifelong commitment. The goal is to lay a strong foundation for a healthy, resilient partnership. Couples explore:
- Communication styles and conflict resolution
- Expectations around roles, finances, intimacy, and family
- Values, beliefs, and long-term goals
- Decision-making and problem-solving strategies
- Plans for managing stress and navigating transitions
A trained therapist guides couples through open, honest conversations about their hopes, concerns, and any potential challenges. The process often includes identifying strengths, building practical skills, and addressing any unresolved issues in a supportive environment. Pre-marital counseling can help develop a deeper understanding of each other, foster trust, and create shared goals for the future - ultimately increasing the likelihood of a satisfying marriage.
Discernment Counseling
Discernment counseling is a short-term form of couples counseling designed for partners who are uncertain about the future of their relationship - specifically, whether to work toward repairing the partnership or to consider separation. It is particularly helpful for "mixed-agenda" couples, where one partner is leaning toward ending the relationship while the other is hoping to preserve it. The primary goals of discernment counseling are to:
- Provide clarity about the direction of the relationship
- Help them understand their contribution to relationship dynamics
- Support respectful and thoughtful decision-making, whether that leads to reconciliation or separation.
Discernment counseling typically differs from traditional couples therapy. Rather than focusing on solving relationship problems or building new skills, the process is about gaining insight and making a well-considered choice. I work with both partners together and individually during each session, creating a safe space for honest reflection and open conversation. By the end of discernment counseling, couples will have greater clarity about their next steps - whether that means committing to couples therapy and working on the relationship, or making the decision to separate.