Your marriage is arguably the most important relationship of your life. At it's best, it can reflect the positive values of your family of origin, while also setting a model for your own children. The statistics reveal that half of all marriages fail, and the early stages are the most vulnerable. It's no secret that the average cost of a wedding is skyrocketing - investing some of your time on the front end of a marriage may, in fact, be a cost-effective decision.

At the same time, premarital work can be fun and energizing. I've watched couples go from thinking they know one another, to truly understanding how deep their connection actually is. Sometimes the presence of a neutral third party brings one person to explain a need or hope in words that the other has never heard before.

I employ Dr. Sue Johnson's Emotionally-Focused therapy (EFT) in my work with premarital couples as it incorporates the new science of adult attachment and bonding research. Validated by more than 20 years of empirical study, EFT is an evidenced-based process that helps couples restructure their emotional bonds following relational distress, the primary reason couples present to counseling. EFT employs a comprehensive theory of adult love and attachment, helping couples heal their distress by using experiential methods to create new, healthy bonding patterns.

The premarital counseling process may include goal-setting and exploration of beliefs about money, family, religion, and lifestyle. I have worked with couples following both their own clergy-recommended guidelines, and their own personal agendas. Together we will create a map that will consider all that you are about to undertake.