Premarital counseling is not the same as post-marital therapy. Premarital is educational and preventive while post marital is reparative.

1. Premarital & Remarital
Counseling
Dr. Dave Jenkins, DMin, LMFT
Family Room Services

2. Premarital & Remarital
Premarital counseling is not the same as postmarital therapy. Premarital is educational and
preventive while post marital is reparative. The
skills of this type of work are not tuned on
looking for a problem. Re-marital counseling
addresses the specific needs of couples working
their second or more marriages.

3. Premarital & Remarital
Traditionally, premarital counseling has been
conducted by clergy. Too often, clergy members
are inadequately trained in counseling and
therapy. They may skip the tough subjects of
premarital counseling, opting to focus their
attention on the wedding.

4. Premarital & Remarital
The counselor's role is more than guidance.
Within premarital counseling, this role is vital to
the understanding of the relationship. He or she
should be knowledgeable and competent in
counseling and should have some level of
training and recognize any educational
limitations. The counselor is not there to
approve or disapprove the relationship.

5. Sessions
• Premarital counseling should be between six to
eight sessions. Administrative issues should be
addressed prior to the first session. This should
include fees, materials supplied, time, and
location. The structure and boundaries should
be address.

6. Sessions
• Session one should be about building rapport
and establishing a working relationship. This
session explores the relationship history, how it
was formed, current issues, expectations, and
level of involvement.

7. Sessions
• The next session should discuss a premarital
instrument such as the PREPARE. Ideally, the
instruments should be fills out prior to this
session. The results are discussed and feedback
provided to the couple.

8. Sessions
• The following session deals with communication
and conflict management, finances, leisure
activities, religious practices, friends, selfesteem and power intimacy and sexuality. This
section may include multiple sessions.

9. Sessions
• The next session addresses family of origin
issues. Reactions from the family should be
explored. The counselor will discuss family types
and genograms. Previous marriages and
relationships will also be addressed in this
session.

10. Sessions
• The following session addresses the area of
finances, insurances, wills, savings, and
budgeting skills. This session may also include
the wedding preparation and concerns. Topics
and issues may include type of ceremony (civil
or religious), religious beliefs regarding the
wedding and if necessary remarital and cultural
issues.

11. Sessions
• The last session is the post wedding session. It
should be about 6 months after the wedding.
Counselors should review of the previous
session, gather feedback, and suggest a marriage
enrichment program.

12. Premarital & Remarital
A skilled counselor will be able to guide the couple
in recognizing their strengths and weaknesses.
Premarital counseling provides couples with a
framework about how their relationship may
progress. He or she is there to inform the
relationship and will inform the couple about
possible pitfalls within their relationship and
unrealistic expectations.

13. Fees
• $350 for the whole package
▫ May pay in 3 installments
 1st $150,
 2nd $100,
 3rd $100
• Each session last 30 minutes

14. Material
• PREPARE assessment
• Book “Don’t You Dare Get Married Until You
Read This”
• Handouts
• Certificate of Completion

15. Contact
• www.familyroomservices.com
• 540-300-1973
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drdave@familyroomservices.com