Premarital Counseling
You are preparing for a successful wedding, but are you also preparing for a successful marriage? We have provided premarital counseling in Minnesota to over 700 engaged couples using the PREPARE/ENRICH inventory, and every one of them started the same way you can: with a free 20-minute intro session and a strengths-based assessment that shows exactly where your relationship is already strong and where a little practice will pay off. Premarital education and counseling give you the communication and conflict resolution skills you will actually use once the wedding is over, and if you are already married the same PREPARE/ENRICH method carries into counseling for married couples in Minneapolis.
Trusted Premarital Counseling Experience with Engaged Couples
We have provided premarital counseling in Minnesota to over 700 engaged couples using the PREPARE/ENRICH inventory. PREPARE/ENRICH consists of a customized, strengths-oriented assessment and complementary skill-building exercises. It measures a couple's strengths and growth areas in 12 categories to gain insights into relationship dynamics, stress, personality, and family systems. We also include outside resources such as The 5 Love Languages and the Fair Fighting Rules.
How the PREPARE/ENRICH Process Works, Step by Step
Every couple follows the same clear path, and it starts before you ever pay for a session. Here is exactly what happens from first contact to your final feedback session:
- Free 20-minute intro session. We talk through where your relationship is now, answer your questions, and decide together whether the Core or Full package is the right fit. No pressure and no charge.
- You each take the assessment separately. Both partners complete the online PREPARE/ENRICH inventory on your own. It takes most couples about 20 to 40 minutes, and answering honestly and independently is what makes the combined report accurate.
- We build your customized report. Your two sets of answers are merged into one couple report that maps your strengths and growth areas across the 12 categories, including how closely your expectations line up on money, family, and roles.
- Feedback sessions, spaced out. We meet for four 50-minute sessions (Core) or up to six (Full), scheduled two to three weeks apart. Each session covers a topic from your report and gives you a specific skill to practice, such as the Fair Fighting Rules for a conflict pattern that keeps resurfacing.
- Workbook practice between sessions. You work through Couples Workbook exercises at home. Spacing the sessions is deliberate: skills stick when you use them in real life between meetings, not when they are crammed into one weekend.
A Supportive, Neutral Guide for Your Premarital Journey
As your facilitator and coach, we will be a neutral, knowledgeable premarital educator, someone who can lead an open and honest dialogue with you and your partner to provide you with skills and tools for effective communication and conflict resolution. Couples counseling before marriage works best when both partners take part, and we structure every session around the two of you rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum. If you are dating seriously but not yet engaged, the same strengths-based approach is available through our counseling for couples who are building toward a lasting partnership.
Topics Covered in Premarital Counseling
Topics covered in premarital counseling include, but are not limited to, personal stress, communication, conflict resolution, partner style and habits, financial management, leisure activities, sexual expectations, family and friends, relationship roles, spiritual beliefs, marriage expectations, and parenting expectations.
What Premarital Counseling Costs and How Many Sessions You Need
Premarital counseling in Minnesota is priced by package, not by the hour, so you know your total up front. The Core package is 700 dollars for four 50-minute feedback sessions, and the Full package is 950 dollars for up to six sessions covering a wider range of topics. Both include the online PREPARE/ENRICH assessment, your customized couple report, the Couples Workbook, and the Love Languages quiz.
- Core package: 700 dollars, four 50-minute sessions
- Full package: 950 dollars, up to six 50-minute sessions
- Free 20-minute intro session before you commit to anything
- Additional 50-minute session: 175 dollars, if you choose to keep going past your package
- 75 dollars off your Minnesota marriage license fee for qualifying couples
Most couples finish in four to six sessions. We schedule them two to three weeks apart on purpose, because the skills only take hold when you practice them between meetings rather than cramming everything into one sitting. You can compare the full breakdown on our Packages and Rates page, or talk it through with us first: (612) 205-6762.
Start Premarital Counseling in Minnesota with a Free Intro Session
If you're looking for premarital counseling in Minnesota to prepare for your marriage, contact us for a free intro session to see if we're a good fit!
Premarital Counseling Questions, Answered
How long does premarital counseling take?
It depends on the package you choose. The Full package covers the whole PREPARE/ENRICH assessment across roughly six sessions; the Core package is four sessions. We generally recommend scheduling sessions two to three weeks apart, which gives you time to work through the Couples Workbook between meetings. The assessment itself takes most couples about 20 to 40 minutes to complete online before your first feedback session.
Is premarital counseling worth it?
Premarital counseling is proactive rather than reactive. The goal is to set you up for success and build on the strengths of your relationship, not only to fix something that is wrong. We work from a strengths-based perspective, using PREPARE/ENRICH to measure your relationship across 12 categories so you head into marriage with practical communication and conflict resolution skills. We have used this approach with over 700 engaged couples in Minnesota.
Do you offer non-religious premarital counseling?
Yes. Many premarital programs are offered through a church or a religious setting. PREPARE/ENRICH was originally a Christian-based assessment, but now offers a non-denominational version that does not focus on religion. We are not religiously affiliated, and while there is a section on spirituality, it is not a focus of our sessions. If you are looking for a religious premarital counseling program, we are happy to refer you to an appropriate resource.
Does my partner have to attend premarital counseling?
For premarital counseling to be truly effective, both partners should be engaged in the process. You each take the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment separately, and then we discuss the combined results together in your feedback sessions. If your partner is not on board yet, it may not be the right time, but keep in mind that PREPARE/ENRICH can also be used after marriage.
How much does premarital counseling cost?
Cost depends on which package fits you best. The Full package covers the complete assessment across roughly six sessions, and the Core package is a shorter four-session option. You can see current options and rates on our Packages/Rates page. If you choose the Full package and want to keep going beyond the included sessions, an additional 50-minute session is $175. Every couple starts with a free 20-minute intro session so you know what to expect before committing.
Which premarital counseling package should we choose?
We recommend the Full package for dating and premarital couples because it lets you go through the full assessment and cover the broadest range of topics. The Core package is a shorter version that includes four sessions covering Relationship Dynamics, Personal Stress, and the Personality Assessment, plus your choice of topics such as Communication, Conflict Resolution, Financial Management, and Marriage Expectations. Typically we cover between 3 and 7 topics. If you are not sure, we will help you decide during your free intro session.
How many premarital counseling sessions do we need?
Most engaged couples do well with four to six feedback sessions after completing the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment. The Core package includes four 50-minute sessions, and the Full package includes up to six 50-minute sessions so you can cover a broader range of topics. We space sessions two to three weeks apart so you have time to work through the Couples Workbook exercises between meetings. If you want to keep going beyond the sessions in your package, an additional 50-minute session is $175.
Have a different question? See more answers to common premarital counseling questions on our FAQ page.