Are you a couples therapist who is:

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The Marriage Prep course is a powerful tool. I love the material and can’t wait to get working on a marketing message to get the word out!  I just completed 4 additional appointments with a couple who were so intrigued with what they learned in the course that they wanted to keep coming back to learn more.  I'm happy with my investment in the Marriage Prep course and so are my couples!  It's incredible value. 

Gail Nelson, M. Ed., LPC Fargo, North Dakota 

Had my first couple and it went really well. I just went through it all.  It’s so fantastic!  I love the thoroughness of all the areas you covered Cate, it just really gives the couple a good overview of what they need to be thinking about. I loved it and I’m definitely all in to purchase it and make use of it at our Centre. I think it could expand our market and provide a much-needed service. 

Sue Diamond Director Founder    The Good Life Therapy Centre

Thank you so much, Cate, for making your "grab and go" Marriage Prep course available. It provides a simple, yet structured and thorough way to guide couples in creating a strong foundation for their future relationship. I am excited to add this program to the services offered in my practice. And I recommend it highly to any couples therapists wanting to help couples in some new ways."

Dr. Anne Goshen Certified Gottman Therapist  Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist

*See Anne's Video Testimonial below

I love Cate’s Marriage Prep course package! Not only does it include a comprehensive questionnaire that goes through important topics, but you also get the Cate’s well written and concise ‘keepsake’ handouts to give to your couple to reinforce your course. I think it’s a beautiful resource for couples of all kinds and an immense value for the therapist and the many couples they will share it with. You can also tailor it to your own style and teaching moments during the course. Cate’s templates are real time savers for the therapist, and her course instructions were easy to follow and convey confidently to my pre-marriage couples. 

Lori J Collins, M.S., MFT – Marriage and Family Therapist in Redwood City, California

I was delighted when I received my materials and experienced how simple it was to prepare to meet with my first clients. The Assessment was thorough and quickly highlighted the specific areas that my couple needed to focus on.  This is an excellent investment both in my practice and in helping couples get off to a good start early in their relationship commitment . I want to thank Cate for making her years of experience available and I look forward to helping many couples build their relationships on a more solid foundation.   

Anne Evans-Cazier, LCSW Salt Lake City, UT www.ResilientChild.com

Everything you need is included in this package. I have designed this course especially for those with training in couples work to use and implement.

Your training in stands you in good stead for working with marriage prep clients. You'll know what contributes to relationship breakdown and can teach your couples skills to avoid these pitfalls. The questionnaire provides you with a means of pre-assessment and is a core structure to follow to keep you on track.  If you have further questions just email me, I would love to help. 

If you have had training in couples counseling then yes you are.  If you haven't yet had much experience working with couples this is a good place to start.  Follow the guidelines I have given you and use the structure of the questionnaires to keep you on track.  Keep the sessions warm and focus on teaching them skills in areas that seem most significant to them. 

My guidelines, suggested interventions and links to resources are useful for marriage preps and are there to assist you.  Integrate your own style and professional expertise to help raise their awareness and guide your couple where they most need it.  

Yes, you can but please do keep my copyright lines and logo intact.

Yes you can if they are in the early stages of a committed relationship, engaged or newlywed.  What I say is "now that I know you both a bit better I think you would benefit from doing my Relationship/ Marriage Prep Course because ...."

If more than one professional in your organization want to use this product with clients, please use the contact us form to inquire about our cost-saving corporate packages.

I read them through and make notes of anything particular that stands out.  I particularly note each of their limitations, anything they find hard to talk to each other about, any unresolved issues for example how did they resolve their first major argument?  How comfortable are they doing things apart?  Sometimes they will only give you very brief answers, but as you go through more answers on the questionnaires more of their dynamic unfolds. They are generally motivated, eager to learn, and open up as they relax into the session.

Not necessarily.  You can also paraphrase their answers or paraphrase a whole section then invite open discussion on that section.  Some of the questions elicit similar answers by design.  This is to help them relax into developing their responses as they move through the questionnaire.  Some people give very full answers to start with, or your discussion may elicit a full response.  This can mean questions further down have already been covered so you can skip by these.  Don't worry if you don't cover everything. The handouts and links complete the course and back up the relationship sections included in the questionnaire.

If you have had some training in couples dynamics and experience working with couples then you could deliver this course.  If you want further training to increase your confidence and understanding of couples counseling I would highly recommend doing the level 1 online training in the Bader Pearson Developmental Model of Couples Therapy. You can do this at your own pace. 

If you are working with an agency then check with them on their policy around keeping client notes. If you have your own practice then you can keep them in a safe place. This is a good time to let your couple know that you will be there for them if ever they need help in the future. Give them the option.  I say “I normally keep the marriage prep questionnaires because many couples do come back for ongoing help periodically....it could be years later.”  Ask them if they are ok with that?  I assure them they never leave my safekeeping and that no information is shared with 3rd parties.

You could.  But remember this is primarily a skills psycho-education course designed to explore how the couple is managing each area of their relationship now and offering them tools, skills and guidlines  where most needed. 

You could offer them a part two marriage/prep course and tailor this to either: 

• more psycho-education, go through the handouts and resource links in more depth to reinforce the skills needed for lasting relationships  
• a mini counseling intensive session to go deeper into specific issues

Or you could offer them some regular counseling sessions. 

Be clear about what you are offering if they come back for further help.