Pre-Marriage Counselling
Prepare for your life together
Pre-marriage, Pre-commitment, or Pre-baby!
Whatever your reason, taking time to prepare your relationship is a worthwhile investment.
Pre-marriage / Pre-commitment
Planning a wedding can be an exciting experience… and, of course, it is just as important to prepare for your life together ever after! Pre-marriage or pre-commitment preparation provides strategies and skills to help you design a life together, stay connected over time, and tackle life’s adventures!
Pre-baby?
Having a baby is a beautiful, challenging, rewarding experience, and one for which arguably we can never be fully prepared. You can, however invest time in building skills you’ll need every day enfacing the challenges and joys your bundle will bring your way. (It’s just as important as a baby-moon, we promise!)
So, while you’re ‘nesting’ in your home to make a lovely place for baby, take a little time to feather the nest of your relationship; the love you model is the real nest that gives baby a sense of secure attachment.
So, how do you want to do this?
We want… regular (e.g. weekly) sessions
Tailor made for the two of you!
Complete the Prepare Enrich survey and four 50 minute sessions; face-to-face and Zoom available.
We want… the fastest possible way
Done in half a day!
Tailor made using the Prepare Enrich survey. Face to face or via Zoom. Perfect if you’re short on time.
Schedule Pre-Marriage Counselling with a Qualified Male or Female Practitioner
Pre-marriage counselling gives you time to talk through what matters before the big day, and to practise skills for communicating, handling disagreements and staying connected as life changes.
What does pre-marriage counselling in Brisbane cover?
Let us help with issues including spiritual beliefs, conflict resolution, personality differences, families of origin unease, financial management, sex and long-lasting romance concerns, and stress profiles, among others.
Gottman research points to friendship, shared meaning and how you handle conflict as key parts of a lasting relationship, so our sessions focus on these areas. Our psychologist and couples therapist are trained in Prepare/Enrich and Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
You each complete a detailed relationship inventory first. We then use research-based approaches to help you understand each other more deeply, build on your strengths and talk through the areas you would like to grow.
Sessions can include talking through past hurts, building positive ways of interacting, deepening your emotional connection and working towards shared goals. We also look at how to keep these skills going after your sessions finish.
The aim is to calm conflict when it flares and to build affection, respect and intimacy, so you can reconnect, refocus and plan your life together.
Our Prepare/Enrich pre-marriage program is approved by the Archbishop of Brisbane. Many couples come to us because their priest, pastor or celebrant requires or recommends pre-marriage preparation. Others simply want to prepare for the marriage, as well as the wedding. We provide a letter of completion once you have finished your sessions.
Why couples in Brisbane choose pre-marriage counselling
You've decided to get married because of a shared sense of trust and commitment. Pre-marriage counselling is a chance to practise turning towards each other, expressing respect and appreciation, and approaching problems as a team.
Several elements are central to a successful, long-term union. You want to know and understand each other’s history, stresses, doubts, psychological world, hopes, and joys.
Ideally, couples should cultivate admiration and affection and cherish each other’s positive characteristics. Communicate your needs, aspirations, values, and convictions honestly, and respond to each other positively.
You need to know your partner will always have your back - and vice versa - and that both of you are willing to work on the challenges occurring along the way.
Counselling empowers you with approaches to help you cope with the conflicts that will inevitably befall you. You cannot resolve all disagreements but can learn to manage conflict in a way that maintains respect and builds connection.
More About Lighthouse Relationships Psychology & Counselling
Megan Kozak holds Masters level qualifications, is an accredited Prepare/Enrich Pre-Marriage Counsellor, and is trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy. Her husband and life partner, Nahum Kozak, is a psychologist with two Masters degrees and offers skills in the Gottman Method, cognitive behavioural therapy, and acceptance commitment therapy.
Contact us to make an appointment before your big day.
