Marital and Premarital

Marital and Premarital counseling are defined as specialized forms of relationship therapy designed to enhance communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen the structural health of a partnership. Premarital counseling is a proactive, educational intervention for couples planning marriage, focusing on identifying potential areas of friction—such as finances, roles, and values—while building foundational conflict-resolution skills. Marital (or couples) counseling focuses on the ongoing relationship, addressing existing distress or patterns of disconnection to improve intimacy and stability. Both are grounded in the ACA’s commitment to fostering healthy systems, often utilizing evidence-based frameworks like the Gottman Method or Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help partners navigate the transition from individual autonomy to a shared life.