Counseling
We have a vague idea of how to take care of a relationship. We’ve seen our parents’ marriage, we watched every episode of Sex and the City, and we SO know why Jon and Kate fell apart. Relationships? We got this.
Except most of us don’t “got this”. We start off great and then the next thing we know we’re picking fights just to make sure someone in this relationship cares. Or we’re hiding out at work or with a video game because it’s less painful than being rejected and put down.
To have a relationship that really works, that leaves you thinking “Oh my gosh, I’m THE luckiest person in the world!” you need to learn a few things.
You need to have a solid understanding of yourself. Who are you? What do you enjoy? What do you hate? How do you show love? How do you understand love?
You need to know what makes your partner tick, and this is more than being able to tell me what his favorite movie is (I’d bet it’s Braveheart). Who is this person? What kind of childhood did she have? How does he deal with stress? What are her goals for the future? How does he show love?
Now the hard part. You need to learn to talk so that you can begin building the trusting and loving connection you’ve always dreamed of.
In counseling sessions you learn how the words and tone you choose create defensiveness and anger in your relationship. You learn what kind of dance you are doing while you fight and how to change the steps so that you are closer rather than farther a part. Most importantly, you learn that no matter what you two can face any trial that life throws your way.
Now for the practical details:
Location - 241 Wilson Pike Circle, Brentwood, TN
Marriage and Individual Counseling sessions with me are $60/session. Sessions are 50 minutes long. The number of sessions a couple needs depends on the client.
Premarital counseling is a different beast. The best premarital counseling is done early in the engagement. If you wait too close to the wedding you’re spending more time proving that you two are perfect for each other rather than being open to how to make your relationship better.
As a small financial incentive for getting couples to get their premarital counseling done earlier, it is $30/session if you are not engaged yet OR have at least 4 months until your wedding day.
If you are getting married within 4 months a premarital counseling session is $50/session. Premarital counseling consists of 8 sessions. (For the math impaired, that’s a $160 savings in getting your premarital counseling done early!)
To schedule your first session of premarital counseling first talk to your fiance. Is he or she interested in taking proactive steps to build a successful marriage?
If so, give Marie McKinney-Oates a call (615.504.0634) or shoot her an email (marie.mckinney@gmail.com). Here is the information I’m going to need to know to schedule your first appointment:
Your name
Fiance’s name
Both of your ages
Wedding date
How long you’ve been together
Whether you live together or not
Times that would be best to meet
From there we will be able to set up our first appointment! Can’t wait to work with you!