Getting Married?

What an exciting time for you and your special other.Have you considered strengthening your relationship with Pre-marital counseling? Research shows that couples who attend premarital counseling have 70% more success rate than couples who do not and learn new skills to live a more healthy and meaningful life.

Pre-marital Counseling

Premarital counseling provides you with the tools to create a shared vision for your future, to live your best relationship possible. Marriage is perhaps the most complex and challenging of all human relationships and certainly, you are looking for a passionate, loving, empowered and healthy relationship with a great emotional bond that enriches both your lives.  Transition from singlehood to taking into consideration another person’s needs and desires, while honoring your own needs and desires can be hard at times.  Premarital counseling optimizes each person’s ability to have a relationship that meets their needs while still maintaining personal passions and interests.  It helps to discuss previous relationship challenges and unresolved childhood trauma that may have a negative impact on healthy relationships. A relationship which is planned to last a lifetime can involve great effort to develop and maintain, and pre-marital counseling can help you identify promising growth areas for your relationship. I am excited to offer you pre-marital counseling to help you explore each other’s thoughts, feelings, and unique individuality, and to examine different aspects of your relationship through this supportive and meaningful program.

Pre-Marital Counseling Plans

In pre-marital counseling, you will be asked to take the John Gottman relationship inventory online and you will be given a copy of your couple’s report.  In your first session, we will work together to discuss the highlights of your relationship's strengths and challenges and to identify areas of the relationship which we can strengthed. Also, we can work on specific issues you are struggling with and want to work on during your sessions. In addition, depending on your needs and desires, premarital counseling can either be a structured or unstructured process.

Goals of Pre-Marital Counseling are to teach you to:

  • Communicate about challenging issues proactively and effectively

  • Resolve conflict successfully and respectfully

  • Create and stick to a financial plan

  • Agree on role responsibilities and expectations

  • Nurture your friendship and sexual relationship

  • Maintain appropriate boundaries with extended family and friends

  • Envision and accomplish your individual and shared dreams

  • Find a healthy and happy balance between marriage/family, work and self

Benefits of Premarital Counseling:

  • Successfully transition from being a dating couple to a married couple

  • Increase confidence in your ability to overcome future challenges

  • Heal existing relationship wounds/disagreements

  • Feel close and connected during the stress of wedding planning

  • Have a common vision and plan for your marriage

John Gottman Premarital Inventory

The John Gottman inventory will help you and your partner identify your unique strengths and differences, which are used as areas of growth. It is one of the most widely used couple assessment programs for premarital counseling. It is also used for marriage counseling, couple enrichment, and dating couples considering engagement.

As a trained couple therapist, Ava Shokoufi, will help you with the process using assessments, exercises, and educational/ therapeutic sessions. Several main goals of premarital counseling included:

  • Explore  your strength and areas need to growth

  • Identify and manage major stressors

  • Resolve conflict by strengthening communication skills

  • Develop a more balanced relationship

  • Explore family of origin issues

  • Discuss financial planning and budgeting

  • Establish personal, couple and family goals

  • Understand and appreciate personality difference

One Day Premarital Counseling Workshop $700/Couple

Include:

  • Access to John Gottman Inventory online

  • The copy of the Inventory's results for couple

  • 3 hour long individualized and educational session to discuss your assessment.

Premarital Counseling Package: $1200/couple

Include:

  • Access to John Gottman Inventory online

  • The copy of the Inventory's results for couple

  • 6 (60 minutes each) educational/therapeutic sessions based on the inventory results and your unique individualized need. Also, we can work on specific issues you are struggling with and wish to work on in therapy sessions

To learn more about how can I help you please explore my website or contact me at 818 - 667 - 4334. Also, if you and your partner are busy during regular office hours, I offer evening and weekend appointments.

Want to get started? Click here to request a Free 15 Minute Consultation.