premarital counseling in Southfield, MI
online therapy in Michigan & Florida
Congrats you're engaged.
As you navigate this season of preparation, I commend your proactive approach to building a strong foundation for your marriage.
While no relationship is flawless, research has identified numerous strategies for nurturing a healthy marriage.
By laying all your cards on the table, you are taking significant steps toward achieving that goal.
Many engaged couples enter this process because someone suggested the idea. Some partners unwillingly come along. Still, way to go!
Others know they want to invest their time, money, and energy in this process (well done, you’re going to get a lot out of this process).
Regardless of your motivation, I’m glad you’re here!
It is easy for engaged couples to be caught up by the adrenaline of wedding planning and the excitement of a future together. While I'm not here to burst your bubble (we all need some optimism for the journey ahead), there are a few thinking patterns & attitudes I've observed in couples that can hinder the development of a strong foundation.
The process of planning a wedding can sometimes cause couples to enter premarital counseling with blind spots, such as:
“We have an issue with _, but it’ll get resolved once we get married.”
“_ won’t happen to us, we love each other enough, and can get through anything.”
“That doesn’t bother me that much… I’ve already lived with a someone.”
“We don’t have that many problems to discuss… except for one and it’s not a dealbreaker.”
a word of caution.
While I don’t doubt the power of love, thinking only about the positives and your relationship's strengths may delay addressing underlying issues. These positive thoughts are valuable, but they only provide temporary relief. It's vital to address the challenges as well.
Relationship expert and researcher John Gottman, along with his team, discovered that 69% of problems couples face are perpetual. In order words, you'll see them at the beginning, middle, and throughout the lifespan of your relationship.
This highlights the importance of developing relationship skills and using tools to manage instead of solving most of your problems. You will need a process for communicating with your future spouse that includes openness, honesty, and care.
You'll need to learn how to listen actively, suspend judgment, demonstrate empathy, and find compromise (which is not the same as giving in).
And yes, you can learn skills for solvable problems. I can teach you plenty of these skills along with the ability to distinguish between problems that fall into the perpetual category and those that are solvable.
I can help you build a healthy marriage
Just like my clients, you deserve to be in a relationship where happiness is a natural result of feeling understood, appreciated, and working together to achieve shared goals.
I firmly believe that your marriage can begin with true intimacy—emotional, sexual, physical, and spiritual.
Discussing your concerns, reaching shared agreements (beyond just acknowledging your partner's point of view), and following through on commitments can bring you closer to realizing your dream relationship.
I'm genuinely enthusiastic about guiding clients who aspire to create a joyful, deeply connected, healthy, and optimistic marriage.
I work with people who are ready to put in the effort and are genuinely excited about the prospects of their future together.
create a strong marital foundation.
What we discuss in therapy is 100% confidential. You may feel vulnerable initially, but this can open your relationship to a deeper sense of belonging. I will challenge you, show you different perspectives, and help you find the tools you need to be a healthy team.
If you are ready to build the marriage of a lifetime, I’d love to help you get there. Schedule your no-obligation, complimentary 20-minute consultation today. It’s time to continue strengthening your partnership and I can help.
GOTTMAN RELATIONSHIP CHECKUP
Utilizing a research-based couple's assessment, we can comprehensively evaluate your relationship from all angles, identifying both its strengths and challenges. This assessment equips you with the insights needed to confidently navigate your future together as a united team.
Here's an overview of the premarital counseling process:
Session one
We'll dive into your relationship history, your identified issues, and explore your initial goals.
Homework #1 – each partner independently completes the assessment through a secure portal for privacy and convenience.
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Session two
I'll meet separately with each partner to go over your concerns and those shared in your assessment.
Homework #2 – you'll review your assessment results. This report comprehensively analyzes nine key relationship areas, highlighting your collective strengths & challenges, and offers valuable feedback to guide our future counseling sessions.
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Sessions three & beyond
Session 3: We're together again and I'll present a comprehensive relationship evaluation, drawing from your assessment results and insights gained during our initial sessions. We will collaboratively refine your premarital counseling objectives.
Sessions 4 & beyond: We'll work on the identified goals, acquire new coping skills, and make the necessary adjustments as we progress. We'll continue working until we mutually agree that our counseling objectives have been achieved.
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You have two options to choose from:
#1. Opt for three-sessions where you will receive your comprehensive Gottman Relationship Checkup results.
#2. Alternatively, you can decide to continue beyond the third session, allowing us to delve into and address the assessment recommendations for your relationship.
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We can meet in person at 29532 Southfield Rd. Suite 115 Southfield, MI 48079. We can also meet online through a secure Telehealth platform. You have the option to use your laptop or download a provided app for your phone or tablet.
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The initial intake session is priced at $200 and is scheduled for 60 minutes. Subsequent premarital counseling sessions are priced at $195 for 50-55 minutes each.
The Gottman Relationship Checkup incurs a fee of $39.
I recommend that couples initially schedule weekly sessions and later transition to every other week for added flexibility and progress in their counseling journey.
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No, it's not a requirement.
We can hold sessions without going through the Gottman Relationship Checkup, tailoring our meetings to match the specific needs and duration you prefer for your relationship. Rest assured, we can still develop an effective relationship plan together.