Premarital
Counseling

Build a Strong Foundation Before You Say "I Do"

 

Preparing for marriage is about more than planning a wedding. It's about building a life together.

 

You're excited about your future, and you should be. But you also know that marriage takes more than love. It takes communication, shared values, mutual respect, and the skills to navigate conflict, change, and the inevitable challenges that come with building a life with another person.

 

Premarital counseling gives you the tools, awareness, and confidence to start your marriage on solid ground.

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Why Premarital Counseling Matters

 

Research is clear: couples who participate in premarital counseling have stronger, healthier marriages. They're better equipped to handle conflict, communicate about difficult topics, and navigate the transitions that challenge even the strongest relationships.

 

But here's what premarital counseling is NOT:

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• It's not a checklist of topics to discuss before the wedding

• It's not about finding problems or convincing you not to get married

• It's not couples therapy for people who are struggling​

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Premarital counseling is proactive, not reactive. It's about strengthening what's already good, addressing potential challenges before they become problems, and building skills you'll use for the rest of your marriage.

 

 

 

 

Who Premarital Counseling Is For

 

I work with engaged couples and seriously dating couples who are:

 

Planning to get married and want to prepare intentionally for a healthy, lasting partnership. You love each other and you're excited about your future, but you also know that a great wedding doesn't guarantee a great marriage.

 

Blending families and navigating the unique challenges of stepchildren, ex-partners, different parenting styles, and complex family dynamics.

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Coming from different backgrounds (cultural, religious, socioeconomic) and want to explore how those differences might impact your relationship.

In a second (or third) marriage and want to learn from past relationship patterns and build something healthier this time.

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Concerned about specific issues like communication, finances, intimacy, career expectations, or other areas where you want to get on the same page.

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Simply being intentional about building the best possible foundation for your marriage, even if things are going well.

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The SYMBIS Assessment

 

I'm a certified SYMBIS facilitator. SYMBIS stands for "Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts," and it's one of the most comprehensive premarital programs available.

 

The SYMBIS assessment is a personalized tool that helps you and your partner:

 

Understand your unique strengths and growth areas - What are you doing well? Where might you face challenges?

 

Explore your personalities and communication styles - How do your differences show up in everyday life? How can you use them as strengths rather than sources of conflict?

 

Identify potential conflict areas - Money, in-laws, sex, career expectations, household responsibilities, faith, parenting. We'll talk about the topics many couples avoid until they become problems.

 

Uncover unspoken expectations - What assumptions are you each bringing into the marriage? Where might those expectations clash?

 

Build practical skills - Communication, conflict resolution, emotional connection, and navigating life's transitions together.

 

The SYMBIS assessment is completed online before our sessions, and then we use your personalized results to guide our conversations. This isn't generic advice. It's tailored specifically to your relationship, your personalities, and your unique dynamics.

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What We'll Cover in Premarital Counseling

 

While every couple is different, here are some of the key areas we typically explore:

 

Communication and Conflict

 

How do you talk about difficult topics? What happens when you disagree? Do you avoid conflict, escalate quickly, or shut down? We'll help you build skills to communicate honestly without attacking and to resolve conflicts without damaging your connection.

 

Expectations and Roles

 

Who does what in your household? How do you make decisions? What does "partnership" actually look like in practice? Many conflicts in marriage come from unspoken expectations about roles, responsibilities, and division of labor.

 

Money and Finances

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How will you manage money together? Separate accounts or joint? Who pays for what? How do you handle debt, savings, spending differences? Money is one of the top sources of conflict in marriage, and talking about it early matters.

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Family of Origin

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How were you each raised? What did you learn about relationships, conflict, communication, and love from your families? How will you navigate relationships with in-laws, holidays, and family expectations?

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Intimacy and Connection

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What does intimacy mean to each of you (emotional, physical, spiritual)? How do you stay connected in the midst of busy lives, stress, and change? What are your expectations around physical intimacy?

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Faith and Values

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What role does faith or spirituality play in your lives? How will you navigate differences in beliefs? How will you raise children in terms of faith or values?

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Life Goals and Dreams

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Where do you see yourselves in 5, 10, 20 years? Career aspirations? Where you'll live? Travel? Having children or not? What does a meaningful life look like to each of you?

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Parenting (if applicable)

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Do you want children? How many? When? What are your parenting philosophies? How were you each parented, and what do you want to replicate or avoid?

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Blending Families (if applicable)

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How will you navigate relationships with stepchildren? Co-parenting with ex-partners? Discipline, boundaries, loyalty conflicts, and creating a sense of family?

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My Approach to Premarital Counseling

 

I bring warmth, honesty, and practical guidance to premarital counseling. My goal isn't to scare you or create problems where none exist. It's to help you build awareness, skills, and confidence so you can navigate whatever comes your way.

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I've been married for over 25 years, so I understand firsthand that marriage is both beautiful and challenging. The healthiest marriages aren't conflict-free. They're built by two people who know how to repair, reconnect, and choose each other over and over again, even when it's hard.

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I'll ask questions that might feel uncomfortable. I'll encourage you to talk about topics you might be avoiding. But I'll also celebrate your strengths, affirm what you're doing well, and help you see that the work you're doing now is an investment in decades of partnership.

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What to Expect

 

SYMBIS Assessment (completed at home):
You'll each complete the online SYMBIS assessment before our first session. It takes about 30-45 minutes and covers personality, communication, conflict, expectations, and key relationship topics.

 

Sessions (typically 4-6 sessions, 50 minutes each):
We'll meet to review your SYMBIS results and explore the topics most relevant to your relationship. Some couples complete premarital counseling in 4 sessions, others prefer 6-8 to go deeper into specific areas.

 

Homework and practice:
Between sessions, you'll have exercises, conversations, or practices to try together. The real growth happens between our sessions, not just during them.

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Flexible scheduling:
We can meet weekly, biweekly, or on a schedule that works for you. Many couples complete premarital counseling in 2-3 months.

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When to Start Premarital Counseling

 

Ideal timing: 6-12 months before your wedding. This gives you time to work through important conversations without the stress of last-minute wedding planning.

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But it's never too late. Even if your wedding is in a few weeks (or you're already married), premarital counseling principles still apply. The goal is building a strong foundation, whenever you start.

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LGBTQ+ Affirming

 

I provide affirming, inclusive premarital counseling for LGBTQ+ couples. Your relationship deserves the same thoughtful preparation, support, and celebration as any other.

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Investment in Your Future

 

Premarital counseling rate: $180 per 50-minute session

SYMBIS assessment: Additional cost (typically $30-40 per couple, paid directly to SYMBIS)

 

Most couples complete premarital counseling in 4-6 sessions, making the total investment around $720-$1,080 plus the assessment fee.

 

This is an investment in your marriage. Research shows that couples who do premarital counseling have significantly lower divorce rates and higher marital satisfaction. The skills you build now will serve you for decades.

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Getting Started

 

If you're engaged or seriously dating and want to build the strongest possible foundation for your marriage, I'd love to work with you.

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I offer both in-person sessions at my Loveland, Ohio office and secure Telehealth sessions for couples throughout Ohio.

 

Your marriage deserves this kind of intentional preparation. Let's do this together. Reach out through my contact form.