Premarital Counseling
Premarital Counseling in Georgia with Sage Counseling and Wellness: Building a Sturdy Foundation For Your Marriage
You’re recently engaged and the excitement has calmed to reality. Maybe you and your partner are doing well in some areas of life but you wish there was better communication.
You may want an unbiased mediator that is affirming of all relationships to help you discuss big topics.
Looking for premarital counseling in Atlanta or online?
Premarital Counseling is crucial to build a sturdy foundation for your marriage. Every couple has disagreements, you wouldn’t be human if you didn’t.
However, strong communication skills are needed to improve and resolve all other potential problems that may come up for couples. Set yourselves up for success and take the time to explore all aspects of your relationship.
Premarital counseling is great for seriously dating, engaged, and newlywed couples. Our perspective on religion and spirituality is open-minded, welcoming, and we are affirming of all relationships.
As a bonus, in the state of Georgia, you can receive a discount on your marriage license for attending premarital counseling. Learn more about the details here.
What does this all look like?
First, you and your partner will attend an intake session and take an extensive assessment through Prepare/Enrich or SYMBIS. Then, we will go over results of your relationship strengths and areas of growth together.
From there, you and your partner will attend sessions either in-person or online as we explore your relationship and use an interactive workbook to improve your areas of growth.
Navigating Love Together: With Prepare/Enrich or SYMBIS, We’ll Explore the Following Aspects of Your Relationship
- Communication (Are you able to ask for what you want and need effectively? Hoping for your partner to say “Are you feeling supported lately? If not, what can I do differently?”)
- Conflict resolution (Do you get stuck in the same fights? Need help in fighting fair? What are your “hot topics”?)
- Partner style & habits (Are you able to accept your partner as they are? How do your personalities mesh together?)
- Financial management (Do you understand your plans for joint or separate accounts and budgeting? Who is the spender and who is the saver?)
- Leisure activities (Are you able to confidently spend time together and apart? What are your personal hobbies?)
- Sexual expectations (Do you both know your likes, dislikes, and favorite displays of affection? Are you both aware of each other’s expectations of intimacy?)
- Family & friends (Are there healthy relationships with loved ones? How do you set boundaries with difficult family members?)
- Relationship roles (Do you both agree on household and career tasks? Who will care for future children?)
- Spiritual beliefs (Do you both understand and accept each other’s spiritual journey, religious or not? How do your values play into your daily lives?)
If you don’t feel confident about the above topics, premarital therapy may be for you. You don’t need to be engaged to benefit from this type of counseling.
We work with those that are dating, engaged and newlywed to overcome obstacles and have a stronger relationship.
Unlock Relationship Success with Sage Counseling and Wellness: We offer premarital sessions in a few ways
- 50 minute sessions, for those that want to space out their learning due to busy schedules or finances.
- 80 minute sessions, for those that want a session with a bit more discussion time.
- Half day intensives (3 hours)
- Full day intensives (6 hours), for those with time or distance constraints that want to learn all they can in single span of time.
Premarital Counseling FAQ
How many sessions would you recommend?
I would recommend aiming for at least 12 sessions to complete the entire assessment, workbook full of interactive exercises, and explore any other concerns that may come up in session. Some couples spend a few sessions more on topics like communication depending on their relationship.
How much does premarital counseling cost?
Sessions are $260 for a 80-minute intensive intake session. Following sessions are $170 for 50-minute sessions. There will be a $35 fee (per couple, not per person) to take the Prepare/Enrich assessment or SYMBIS assessment. Intensives: Half Day (3 hours) is $500, Full Day (6 hours) is $1000. The intensives allow us to cover more ground in one setting and practice skills in depth.
What is the structure?
We will have a 80-minute first session. You will take the online Prepare/Enrich assessment online. I will have a 50-minute individual session with each partner. Then we will go over results in a 50-minute feedback session and begin work through the interactive workbook. I do give homework to help supplement the skills you learn in session. Each following session will be 50 minutes unless discussed otherwise.
What if we want to schedule half day or full day intensives?
We will have our intake, separate individual sessions, take the assessment and go over results of the assessment in longer intensives. I do give homework to help supplement the skills you learn in session. From there, we can have half day (3 hours) or full day (6 hours) intensives from there forward or 50 minute sessions for various topics. Couples whose schedules make it difficult to attend weekly therapy sessions also benefit from intensive couples services. Depending on how the therapy evolves, you may choose to return for follow-up sessions every few weeks or months. You will pay in full prior to attending sessions, and due to our scheduling commitments, there is a 3 week cancellation policy. Your therapist has to make themselves available and arrange their schedules for these sessions, so it is imperative that you keep your appointment and commit to this process.
Will this apply for us to get a discount on our marriage license? If so, how many sessions do we need?
Yes! The state of Georgia counts Prepare/Enrich and SYMBIS as a great way to have premarital counseling. The minimum for the state of Georgia is 6 hours of premarital counseling.
How do we check if we get a discount in our county for receiving counseling before marriage?
Would you provide proof or have to sign off on our completion of premarital counseling before we can get our marriage license?
Are there any aspects of religion in your premarital counseling sessions?
My perspective on religion and spirituality is open-minded, welcoming, and I am affirming of all relationships. I’m here to support you both wherever you are comfortable in your beliefs and it is not my place to push any one faith.
What Comes Next
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation call with the therapist you would like to work with or fill out our potential client form here. From there, you will set up your first session, also known as an intake session. With your chosen therapist, let them know a bit about your concern, your history with past treatment, ask about our fees, and the best days and times to attend therapy sessions.
Fees
Each therapist at Sage Counseling and Wellness has their own fee structure. When you have the initial consultation call with your therapist, you will discuss your fee with them.
Our therapists do not participate in-network with any insurance companies. Clients pay their therapist each time they come to a session and are then emailed an insurance-compatible statement at the end of each month to send to their insurance companies for out-of-network reimbursement called a superbill. Each insurance company varies on what reimbursement they give for psychotherapy out of network. You may want to check with your insurance company to find out what they offer for psychotherapy with a therapist with your therapist’s particular licensure in Georgia.
What Can I Expect at My First Therapy Appointment?
Many people have fears, assumptions, and at times, no idea at all about what therapy will be like the first time they come in for a first session. We would also encourage you to reach out and ask your therapist any questions you have about what therapy will be like with them.
Each therapist has their own way of approaching their work. But here are some things that may happen in your first session here at Sage Counseling and Wellness:
- When you start your first online appointment, you’ll be in the virtual waiting room.
- While you wait for your appointment, take a moment to breathe, look over any thoughts or items you’d like to share in the session, and perhaps take a restroom break beforehand so you can be fully present.
- As sessions are virtual, you can sit however you want to sit comfortably. Some clients prefer to sit at a desk, others in a comfy chair with a laptop or tablet, and some others sit on the floor on a yoga mat to stretch while in session. It’s completely up to you.
- In your first session, your therapist will likely remind you that what you talk about in session is completely confidential with a few legal and ethical exceptions, which will be explained to you (and which are outlined in our consent to treatment document). If you have any questions about those policies, you’re encouraged to ask!
- Your therapist might discuss any other policies they have (cancellation, payment, session length, scheduling, or other ‘frequently asked questions’). This all only takes a few minutes.
- Then, depending on the level of crisis that you’re currently experiencing, your therapist might review their particular style of therapy, discuss your intake form with you, begin a more thorough assessment of your history, or just ask you what brings you in at that particular time. From there on, it’s a conversation and there are no right or wrong things for you to say — the only thing you can do ‘wrong’ at that point is to be dishonest, and in doing so you would only slow down your progress. If there is something about your therapist that seems like it would get in the way of you feeling comfortable being honest, you can say so, and your therapist may be able to help you feel more comfortable. We want you to feel comfortable and confident with your therapist. If at any time you don’t, please let them know or let the director know.
- Your therapist may or may not take notes, depending on their treatment style. These notes are also confidential unless you consent to their release, and they are kept safely in our electronic health record system.
- Therapy is a safe space to show your vulnerability so crying is perfectly acceptable.
- You’ll pay for your session at the end, generally, via your credit card on file.
- You can discuss a regular meeting time with your therapist so that this time becomes your reserved time. This helps in accountability for you to work on your progress as well.