Premarital Counseling in California
Build a stronger foundation before marriage with intentional conversations, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of one another.
Whether you've been together for years or recently got engaged, premarital counseling can help you enter marriage feeling more connected and confident.
Why Premarital Counseling?
Planning a wedding often comes with endless decisions about one day. Premarital counseling is an opportunity to invest in the years that come after it.
If you’re planning to get married, you obviously care deeply about one another and your relationship. I think that’s beautiful and something to protect. Premarital counseling is all about setting you up for success. We do that by creating intentional space to have meaningful conversations- ones that often get pushed to the side in the midst of wedding planning busyness! Together, we’ll identify and strengthen what’s already working while preparing for challenges that every couple inevitably faces.
You'll walk away with a better understanding of yourselves, your relationship dynamics, and your expectations for the future, as well as practical tools you can rely on for years to come.
I welcome couples of all identities, orientations, and relationship backgrounds, and strive to create a space where both partners feel seen, respected, and understood.
Premarital counseling may be a good fit if you...
recently got engaged
are planning your wedding
are talking about marriage
want to feel more prepared for married life
want to improve communication before conflict becomes more difficult
are blending families
have different backgrounds or values you'd like to better understand
simply want to invest in your relationship before saying "I do."
You don’t need to be struggling to benefit from support.
One of the best times to invest in your relationship is before major problems arise.
Many couples assume counseling is only for relationships in crisis. In reality, premarital counseling is an opportunity to strengthen an already healthy relationship, improve communication, and prepare for the challenges that naturally come with marriage.
It’s less about fixing problems and more about building a solid foundation for the life you're creating together.
What we’ll explore together
Communication
Learn how to navigate disagreements, express needs clearly, and feel heard.
Shared Values
Explore what matters most to each of you and how those values can guide future decisions together.
Conflict
Understand the patterns that show up during conflict and develop healthier ways to repair after disagreements.
Expectations
Discuss expectations around marriage, roles, family, intimacy, careers, and future goals.
Connection
Strengthen emotional closeness and build habits that help your relationship stay connected over time.
Life After the Wedding
Marriage is only the beginning. We'll talk about building a relationship that continues to grow long after the celebration is over.
My Approach
My approach is warm, collaborative, and practical. I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, attachment theory, and strengths-based approaches to help couples better understand one another and build lasting connection.
Rather than giving generic advice, we'll explore the unique strengths, patterns, and goals within your relationship so our work feels meaningful and relevant to both of you.
What makes this different?
Many premarital programs focus on checking boxes or completing a curriculum. While structured conversations can be helpful, I believe every relationship is unique.
We'll start by completing a thorough assessment to identify the unique strengths and potential areas for growth in your relationship. The goal isn’t to tell you whether you're compatible. It's to help you better understand yourselves, each other, and how to build the kind of marriage you both want.
We’ll then explore not only practical topics like communication and conflict, but also the emotional patterns underneath them, helping you support yourselves, each other, and the relationship you're creating together.
Invest in your marriage before it begins.
Premarital counseling is an opportunity to slow down, have intentional conversations, and build the kind of partnership you both want for the future.
I’d love to help you start this next chapter with confidence.