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Premarital Counseling

Prepare not only for the wedding, but for the relationship you want to build.

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Premarital counseling is an intentional opportunity to understand one another more deeply, identify strengths and potential pressure points, and develop the skills that will support your relationship through change, stress, conflict, and everyday life.

 

Whether you are engaged, considering engagement, or preparing to blend families and histories, premarital counseling provides guided conversations that couples often intend to have—but may not know how to begin.

 

I offer collaborative, faith-sensitive premarital counseling using the SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) or Prepare/Enrich assessments and evidence-informed relationship practices.

Premarital counseling may help you:

  • Understand your relationship’s existing strengths

  • Identify expectations that have not yet been discussed

  • Recognize how family history influences each partner

  • Improve communication and listening

  • Learn how to navigate disagreement without damaging connection

  • Discuss finances, roles, responsibilities, and decision-making

  • Explore intimacy, affection, and expectations for your sexual relationship

  • Prepare for relationships with parents, in-laws, friends, and community

  • Consider children, parenting, and family goals

  • Understand personality differences and stress responses

  • Strengthen friendship, trust, and emotional safety

  • Discuss faith, spiritual practices, church involvement, and shared values

  • Prepare for remarriage, grief history, or blending families when applicable

The SYMBIS assessment

SYMBIS is designed to help couples explore the factors that shape marital satisfaction and resilience. Each partner completes an online assessment separately. The results are then used to guide personalized feedback and conversation.

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The assessment may address areas such as:

  • Mindset and expectations about marriage

  • Personality and communication styles

  • Family-of-origin influences

  • Relationship dynamics and conflict

  • Finances

  • Social support

  • Spirituality

  • Intimacy

  • Individual and shared goals

 

SYMBIS does not determine whether two people “should” marry, predict the future, or assign a passing or failing score. It gives us meaningful data to help you understand your relationship and intentionally prepare for marriage.

What the process looks like

Premarital counseling generally includes:

  1. An initial consultation to discuss your relationship, goals, timing, and whether the service is a good fit.

  2. Individual completion of the SYMBIS assessment before the first feedback meeting.

  3. Personalized feedback sessions focused on your strengths, growth areas, and the topics most relevant to your relationship.

  4. A practical relationship roadmap identifying conversations, skills, and commitments to continue developing together.

 

The number and length of sessions may vary according to your needs. Some couples prefer a series of sessions, while others may benefit from a format such as an intensive.

Premarital counseling is different from crisis couples therapy

Premarital counseling can bring important concerns to the surface, but a structured premarital process may not be sufficient when there is active abuse, coercive control, untreated addiction, serious safety concerns, or an acute relationship crisis. If a different or higher level of support is needed, I will discuss appropriate referrals or next steps with you.

 

In-person premarital counseling is offered in Watkinsville. Telehealth counseling is available only when both partners are physically located in a jurisdiction where I am legally permitted to provide counseling at the time of service.

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