PRE MARRIAGE COUNSELLING:
Preparing for Life Together
Marriage Preparation
Marriage is a life-long commitment and probably the most important commitment you make in life that cannot be taken lightly. However, nothing perfectly prepares us to do life together and intimately with another person. But by investing time and effort in going through marriage preparation, you and your partner can increase your chance of success in building a meaningful and rewarding marriage for the long haul.
How does marriage preparation help you and your partner?
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Understanding each other
Marriage preparation helps you understand each other better, including your values, beliefs, and goals. This understanding can help you both develop a deeper connection and strengthen your relationship. It can also help you and your partner understand each other's expectations for the marriage. This can include discussing finances, household responsibilities, and other important issues that may arise in the future.
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Navigating family dynamics
Marriage preparation can help you and your partner navigate the complex dynamics of each other's families. This can include understanding cultural differences, dealing with in-laws, and learning how to blend two families into one.
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Learning new skills
Marriage preparation provides you and your partner with the opportunity to learn new skills, such as communication techniques and problem-solving strategies, that can help you navigate the challenges of marriage.
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Turning toward each other
Marriage preparation can teach you and your partner practical skills for building a strong and lasting marriage. This can include learning how to make time for each other, how to keep romance alive, and how to support each other through life's ups and downs.
Our Approach
PREPARE/ENRICH
Prepare/Enrich is one of the most widely used online assessment tool for couples who are considering marriage to identify their strengths and growth areas.
Based on the assessment results, we work with you and your partner to discuss key areas of your relationship with the following goals:
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Explore strength and growth areas
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Strengthen communication skills
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Identify and manage major stressors
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Resolve conflict
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Develop a more balanced relationship
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Explore family of origin issues
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Discuss financial planning and budgeting
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Establish personal, couple and family goals
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Understand and appreciate personality differences
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How do I make an appointment?To make an appointment with Life Affinity, you can fill out this contact form and we'll get back to you within one business day. You may also email us at info@lifeaffinity.com.
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What are individual counselling services?Individual counselling services are one-on-one counselling sessions where a client works closely with a trained therapist in a safe, supportive environment. This is where you can explore, analyse and understand your thoughts, emotions and behaviours that affect your day-to-day life.
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How do I know if I need individual counselling services?Here are a few signs that you need individual counselling services: 1. You experience difficulties like relationship problems, stress, anxiety, depression and trauma. 2. You abuse substances such as drugs and alcohol to help you cope. 3. You have too much intrusive thoughts (e.g., harming yourself, negative self-talk) 4. You feel an overwhelming sense of hopelessness and apathy. 5. You want to learn how to express your feelings and thoughts in productive ways. Having a qualified counsellor you can wholeheartedly trust helps you progress more quickly down the path of recovery and breakthrough.
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Are marriage counselling services only for couples who face extreme relationship difficulties?No, marriage counselling is beneficial for all couples. Your relationship doesn't have to be at the breaking point for you to seek the guidance of a trained counsellor. Aside from resolving conflicts, it can help you maintain a fulfilling relationship, strengthen emotional connection and practice prevention.
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What are marriage counselling services?Marriage counselling services are a type of psychotherapy that helps married couples or romantic partners resolve conflicts, negotiate differences and improve their relationship.
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How can Marriage Counselling help in Affair Recovery?Affair recovery is a complex and challenging process that requires commitment from both partners. To help couples recover from infidelity and rebuild trust in their relationship, counsellors can offer support and help them navigate the specific challenges they face. Through creating a safe space for both partners to express their emotions, fear, guilt, shame and concerns openly, counsellors guide the couples in the following: Understanding the reasons and impact caused by the infidelity. Rebuilding trust - a critical component of infidelity recovery. Having an open and honest communication by both partners - learning active listening skills, empathy, and effective ways to express their feelings and needs without resorting to blame or defensiveness. Restoring emotional intimacy and rebuilding emotional connection. Addressing underlying issues, exploring unmet needs, improving conflict management skills, renegotiating roles and responsibilities, or addressing other relationship dynamics that contributed to the infidelity. Developing a new relationship foundation based on trust, honesty, and mutual respect.
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What can I expect during a marriage counselling session?During marriage counselling sessions, you and your partner will have an open discussion regarding your issues, actively listen to each other and provide constructive feedback. A licensed counsellor facilitates these conversations, helping you identify underlying patterns and equip you with tools & techniques.
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Can my partner and I see each other's answers?No. The assessment is done separately where each of you will receive a unique login and password. Neither of you can access the other’s information at any time, and we encourage you not to share your login information with your partner in order to preserve the integrity and effectiveness of the questionnaire.
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Will I get a copy of my results?A summary report will be given to you and the detailed results will be given to your therapist to review, interpret the analysis, and more importantly discuss with you ways for improving your relationship. You can choose to continue engaging us to work on this aspect or seek other forms of help.
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How long does it take to complete the assessment?Typically, it takes between one to two hours to complete. The length of time is dependent on the complexity of the issue. You can choose to either complete it in one sitting or in parts if you like. The system will save your input and allow you to continue from where you left off.
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What happens after we complete the questionnaire?When you and your partner have completed the questionnaire, a report will be available on your therapist’s dashboard with the complete results and suggested therapeutic interventions.
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I am interested in the checkup. How do I proceed?Great, you can get in touch with us by email at info@lifeaffinity.com. We will invite you and your spouse for a first consultation before you get started with the tool.
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Who created this assessment tool? How reliable is this tool in helping our relationship?The tool is developed by Drs John and Julie Gottman in collaboration with The Gottman Institute. Dr. John Gottman is a clinical psychologist known for his work in marital stability and relationship analysis. Dr. Julie Gottman is a clinical psychologist who has extensive experience in private practice and teaching settings. The tool is developed from 40 years of research with thousands of couples and relies on intensive, detailed, and evidence-based information on why relationships succeed or fail.
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What is pre marriage counselling?Pre marriage counselling helps couples prepare for marriage. It intends to guide you and your partner in discussing important issues like raising children, finances and potential conflict areas before settling down. With the guidance of a trained counsellor, you will both understand each other's beliefs, goals and values. You will learn how to navigate family dynamics and keep the romance alive through good communication & problem-solving skills.
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When should we start pre marriage counselling?We highly recommend that you book a pre-marriage counselling session several months before the wedding day. This is to allow enough time for assessments, discussions and making changes that will address or fix both of your concerns.