Calgary Premarital Counselling

It’s not about how long you’ve been together. And it’s not about whether you’ve lived together or acted like a married couple or even have children already. As the wedding date approaches and you prepare for your marriage, you’re going to feel different. You’re going to feel anxious, pressured, happy, and stressed all at the same time.

Marriage is and will always be a significant milestone in a couple’s life together, filled with both excitement and worry about the future ahead. In order to maintain a marriage, a couple has to know and understand what it takes to be a successful married couple, and how to continue to communicate and put effort into a working relationship.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT

During the weeks or months leading up to your marriage, you may want to consider a marriage preparation counsellor at Innovative Counselling Solutions, Inc., Dr. Oteng-Boateng is a trained facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich couples counselling program and the PREP program. Prepare-Enrich helps couples prepare for a lifetime together by addressing key areas of a relationship before they get married. PREP is a scientifically-based and empirically-tested method of relationship enhancement and divorce prevention that helps couples to maintain high levels of functioning and prevent marital problems from developing. In addition, Dr. Oteng-Boateng is a Certified Sex Addiction and Trauma therapist. He has also completed Level’s I & II of the Gottman Methods Couples Therapy and teaches skills to address individual issues as well as couple issues prior to making the important decision to get married.

Premarital Counseling usually consists of an initial online assessment taken by you and your fiancé/fiancée to identify the strengths and potential areas of growth (weaknesses) in your relationship. A report is generated based your individual answers in relation to the following scales:

• 12 Relationship Scales — communication, conflict management, roles, sexuality, finances, spiritual beliefs, and more

• 5 SCOPE Personality Scales

• 4 Couple and Family Scales — based on Circumplex Model

• 4 Relationship Dynamic Scales

• 30 Customized Scales

Following the assessment, you will meet with the therapist to review the results. In addition, you and your fiancée will be given workbooks with assignments to do together outside of the counselling sessions. During the sessions, you will experience a safe and confidential setting to grow your relational skills and communicate successfully about any issues needing to be addressed, including the following:

• Identify strengths and growth areas in your relationship

• Explore personality differences and traits

• Strengthen communication skills

• Manage conflict and reduce stress

• Share spiritual beliefs

• Compare family background characteristics

• Build commitment and intimacy

• Develop long lasting friendship and emotional supportiveness

• Maintain trust and develop a better relationship

Many of the couples that see our marriage preparation counsellors are already experiencing some struggles in their relationship leading up to the marriage, yet many of the couples have no problems at all, and are simply dedicated to making sure their marriage is something that will work.

Our counsellors approach every situation carefully, with the understanding that no couple’s relationship is the same and that everyone has their own needs and desires. We do not judge or take sides. We simply work to facilitate positive change and ensure that your relationship is able to grow in a healthy way.

OUR MARRIAGE PLANNING AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Innovative Counselling Solutions, Inc. is proud to offer support to any couple in or around the Calgary area that is hoping to grow and strengthen their relationship both before and after marriage.

If you are planning on getting married or engaged and would like to work with one of our Calgary marriage preparation experts, please give us a call today. We’re happy to discuss your needs with you and make sure you’re set for the road ahead. Contact us today to get started.