Premarital Counseling in Nashville
In recent years, premarital counseling has gained popularity as more couples recognize its value in building a strong marital foundation.
No one gets married thinking they’ll get divorced— yet even with the divorce rate declining in the US, 39% of marriages are still ending in divorce.
Premarital counseling offers an opportunity to navigate potential challenges proactively— whereas historically, couples wait an average of 7 years after they started having problems to seek therapy. While it’s still possible for many relationships to heal even in that position, the work is often much more difficult because of the amount of damage and disconnection that has already occurred.
Studies show that couples who engage in Premarital Counseling are up to 31% less likely to divorce.
This process provide a space to explore expectations, proactively identify potential conflicts and challenges, enhance communication and conflict management skills, and align on crucial topics like finances, family planning, work/life balance, and shared values.
As couples approach marriage, the engagement phase is often an overall happy time— but it's vital to distinguish between present happiness and long-term satisfaction. Premarital counseling helps couples develop the skills needed to maintain and deepen their relationship over time, even as you grow and change as individuals.
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Premarital counseling at The Gaia Center is a comprehensive process where couples can explore their relationship dynamics, identify potential areas of conflict, and build tools for effective communication and problem-solving.
For couples interested in going deep, we offer a 12-session premarital counseling framework rooted in the principles of The Gottman Method (and integrating additional approaches), an evidence-based framework for healthy relationships and couples therapy rooted in 40+ years of research.
While we recommend completing our full 12-session program to get the full breadth and depth of comprehensive Premarital Counseling, we can be flexible to the needs of each couple.
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Each session is 50 minutes and billed at the time of session; rates vary depending on therapist (see FAQ for couples rates.) Currently, Premarital Counseling is offered by Emerson Ryder, Kaitlyn King, and Valerie Martin.
1. Initial Assessment Session
2. Individual Session - Partner
3. Individual Session - Partner 2
4. Feedback + Goals Session
5. Family History + Relationships - Partner 1
6. Family History + Relationships - Partner 2
7. Healthy Communication & Conflict Management
8. Nourishing Self & the Relationship
9. Exploring Needs & Expectations
10. Intimacy & Sexuality
11. Roles
12. Values & Life Dreams -
Premarital counseling offers numerous benefits, from fostering a team mentality to helping couples navigate stress and conflict effectively. This process is an opportunity to explore compatibility, address concerns, and solidify your partnership before marriage. Couples who engage in premarital counseling are better equipped to handle the inevitable challenges of marriage, leading to stronger, more resilient relationships.
A long-term committed relationship is not everyone’s cup of tea— but for those who choose it, “Marriage is a people-growing machine,” as the late renowned couples/sex therapist David Schnarch often said. By making this kind of commitment, both you and your partner will have the opportunity (and challenge) to grow in ways you haven’t even imagined at this point.
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The Gaia Center brings a holistic, trauma-informed approach to Premarital Counseling, and we blend evidence based approaches tailored to each couple, including The Gottman Method, The Doherty Approach, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.
We recognize that each couple is unique, and our therapists are skilled in tailoring sessions to meet the specific needs and dynamics of your relationship. We are also affirming of non-traditional relationship structures (like ENM/poly), all genders, and all sexual orientations and preferences.
Whether you're interweaving different cultural backgrounds, blending families, merging faiths, or simply seeking a strong foundation— our emphasis of building on your strengths as a couple and shoring up your weaker areas helps to ensure that you feel well-prepared for the journey of marriage.
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Differences in upbringing, culture, and values can significantly impact a relationship. Premarital counseling provides a space to explore these differences, understand each other’s perspectives, and find common ground.
Our therapists are trained to consider cultural influences (from race and ethnicity to religion, gender, ability, and more) and help couples navigate the complexities of merging diverse backgrounds.
Want to start your marriage off on the best foot possible?
At The Gaia Center, we believe that by investing in your relationship now, you’re laying the strongest possible foundation for a lifetime of love, partnership, and fulfillment— and we’re committed to providing the guidance and support you need in that process. Contact us today to book a free consultation and get started with our comprehensive Premarital Counseling program.