Marriage Education / Preparation
As a certified Marriage Educator with the National Marriage Centers, I am pleased to offer a marriage education class for couples considering engagement, engaged couples, newlyweds, married couples in stable relationships and single participants who wish to learn more about making their current or future marriage one of strength, beauty and joy.
Why Invest in Marriage Education? Both successful and unsuccessful marriages have about the same amount of conflicts. How we treat one another, approach conflict and attempt to resolve conflict is what makes the difference. Marriage faces an unprecedented number of challenges today, so a higher divorce rate is not unexpected. However, the divorce rate needn't be as high as it stands right now either. Having realistic expectations, anticipating areas of conflict, setting mutual goals and learning communication tools that affirm your relationship can help you and your partner beat the odds. Marriage education is a process for both self-awareness as individuals and goal setting as a couple. It is an investment in helping your marriage endure with beauty, strength and delight. Consider these sessions an opportunity for some time away from the hustle and bustle of wedding planning or routine obligations that gives you permission to be totally absorbed in one another and nothing else. This is time spent focused on your relationship that can enhance your intimacy and generate even more excitement about your partnership. Who Can Register for the Class? Any couple or single individual is welcome to register for the class. This is a secular ethics-based program. The importance of the couple's religious life is recognized and discussed, but the course content does not affirm or promote specific theologies or religious doctrines concerning marriage. Couples who are inter-faith, "spiritual but not religious" or completely secular will be perfectly comfortable in this class. I do recommend that couples experiencing persistent unhappiness or in the midst of a specific crisis seek professional counseling as their situation may be beyond the scope of this class. Why do you offer this class to singles? I recognize that some people may have a partner unable to attend a class at the same time. (You still qualify for the marriage license discount if both partners have taken a marriage preparation course within twelve months of applying for the license. You do not have to take the same course or a course at the same time.) Some may have a reluctant partner and want to find out if it is something the other will consider valuable. Some may be in a relationship and use this course to make the very personal decision on whether or not to proceed to a stronger commitment. Some may simply be curious. What Topics are Covered in the Class?
|
How Much Does the Marriage Education Class Cost?
Does This Class Qualify for the Discount on our Marriage License? Yes, I am a registered premarital course provider with Brevard County. If you apply for your license in Brevard County within twelve months of completing the class you are eligible for the $32.50 discount and three-day waiting period waiver per Florida Statute 741. 0305. You will be given a certificate at the completion of the class to present to the Clerk of Court when you apply for your marriage license. How Do We Register for the Class? Simply send me an email at brevardminister@cfl.rr.com or use the form below. I will contact you to schedule two mutually convenient dates and times for our sessions. |
Do You Offer Additional Personalized Counseling?
My co-pastor, Rev. Dr. Gregory Wilson, and his wife Helen Wilson, are certified Prepare/Enrich counselors. This program offers individualized counseling based on a computer-scored online or paper-based inventory with questions that the couples answer as individuals, and then get results that form the basis of one or more follow-up counseling sessions. There are separate inventories for engaged couples, married couples, previously married couples with children, and older couples. This is a great follow-up option for couples who would like a more detailed personalized form of counseling.
My co-pastor, Rev. Dr. Gregory Wilson, and his wife Helen Wilson, are certified Prepare/Enrich counselors. This program offers individualized counseling based on a computer-scored online or paper-based inventory with questions that the couples answer as individuals, and then get results that form the basis of one or more follow-up counseling sessions. There are separate inventories for engaged couples, married couples, previously married couples with children, and older couples. This is a great follow-up option for couples who would like a more detailed personalized form of counseling.
