The Journal
Plain-English explainers on premarital counseling, church marriage prep, assessments, costs, and finding the right support before the wedding.
Featured guide
Live video counseling vs self-paced courses, costs, and which states (Texas, Florida, Minnesota) accept online education for license discounts.
Research-backed answers, practical frameworks, and faith-aware explainers.
The Gottman Method brings decades of relationship research to premarital work. What sessions involve, what they cost, and how to find a trained therapist.
Several states cut your marriage license fee when you complete premarital counseling. Here is every discount, what qualifies, and how to claim yours.
Before you book a venue or pick a color palette, here are 10 things that will set your engagement — and your marriage — up for success.
An honest look at what actual readiness for marriage looks like — and why needing more time doesn't mean something is wrong.
The big conversations every couple should have before walking down the aisle — organized by topic, with context on why each one matters.
Eight research-backed habits that set thriving long-term couples apart — and how to build them into your own relationship.
Practical techniques for bringing up tough topics — money, family, intimacy, the future — without triggering defensiveness or a blowup.
A state-by-state guide to licensing requirements for premarital counseling. Clergy exemptions, counselor vs. coach distinctions, liability, and who can legally provide premarital services.
A side-by-side comparison of the three most popular premarital counseling assessments — PREPARE/ENRICH, Gottman Relationship Checkup, and SYMBIS. What each measures, costs, and who it is best for.
A practical, session-by-session framework for pastors who want to build an effective premarital counseling program at their church — from assessments to referrals.
Research shows the topics divorced couples most regret not discussing before marriage: finances, conflict styles, in-laws, intimacy expectations, and more. A case for premarital counseling.
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