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Center for Marriage Preparation

Center for
Marriage Preparation

Evaluate, Strengthen, and Prepare Your Relationship
for the Most Important Commitment You Will Make.

Center for Marriage Preparation

Evaluate, Strengthen, and Prepare Your Relationship for the Most Important Commitment You Will Make.

— Before We Say I Do —

Premarital Relationship Course

The Before We Say I Do program is the most comprehensive premarital program of its kind. Packed with practical, research-based topics and engaging activities to evaluate and enhance your marital readiness and help prepare you for this most wonderful life-long commitment.

How the course works

The Before We Say, "I Do" program is an 8 session program that explores several topics that have been shown in the research to have the most impact on a successful marriage.


What will each session look like?

During each session, the couple will meet with the therapist and/or a relationship educator and go through their relationship assessment, process the session preparation activities, and discuss any questions or concerns about the current topic. 

— Before We Say I Do —

Premarital Relationship Course

The Before We Say I Do program is the most comprehensive premarital program of its kind. Packed with practical, research-based topics and engaging activities to evaluate and enhance your marital readiness and help prepare you for this most wonderful life-long commitment.

How the course works

The Before We Say, "I Do" program is an 8 session program that explores several topics that have been shown in the research to have the most impact on a successful marriage.


What will each
session look like?

During each session, the couple will meet with the therapist and/or a relationship educator and go through their relationship assessment, process the session preparation activities, and discuss any questions or concerns about the current topic. 

What the Course Will Include

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Building a Solid Marriage

Create your marriage vision together as you discuss your goals, aspirations, and dreams as well as your individual and shared core values. Learn about the foundations of what makes marriages thrive. Learn about your marriage momentum and an overview of your strengths and potential challenges.

Starting with Me

Become introspective about your strengths and potential challenges both individually and as a couple. Learn about how your family backgrounds and adaptive attachment strategies can impact your partner and your marriage. Discover your potential differences when it comes to personality and preferences.

Communication

Discuss your communication styles, how communication impacts your relationship, and strategies to make it better. Learn about the areas of sensitivity and negative cycles of interaction that can hijack your relationship.

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Short title

Conflict Resolution

Discover the key areas of struggle for newly married couples. Set ground rules for your communication and conflict resolution. Learn powerful tools to understand your partner and how to validate and have empathy for your partner’s perspective. Learn and Practice the Reconnection and Repair Discussion to come back together after disconnections. Learn about the Solution Discussion Pattern to peacefully resolve any marital issues.

Sexual Intimacy

Discuss your expectations for your sexual life together. Discover the powerful guideposts to fulfilling sexual intimacy and becoming a sexually intimate team. Learn the basics of sexual desire, anatomy, and physiology that will enhance your first sexual experience or further strengthen your current sexual relationship. Tips on birth control and what might be right for your situation.

Finances

Discuss your expectations for your financial future and discover specific strategies to managing finances as a team. Collaborate on your financial goals and ground rules and get an overview of your financial situation.

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Commitment

Commitment in marriage has been found to be one of the most important parts of a successful and stable relationship. You'll learn how to build, nurture, and strengthen your commitment to each other that will create lasting happiness and endurance through the good and difficult times.

After the Honeymoon

Learn the power of the intentional marriage and how to stay committed and keep your love alive. Revisit and revise your marriage vision into your marriage proclamation.

Additional Aspects
of the Program

Personalized Relationship Assessment (SYMBIS)

Discover your personalized assessment of the strengths and potential challenges in your relationship and future marriage. Receive specific advice on how to work through any potential issues that come up and how to draw upon your strengths. 


Research-Based Video Content

Watch and discussed engaging videos developed by and featuring the program creator, Dr. Jeremy Boden


One-on-One Sessions with a Trained Counselor or Relationship coach

All sessions will be facilitated by mental health therapists or relationship coaches who have been trained and mentored by the program creator, Dr. Jeremy Boden


Targeted Discussion Questions

Discuss over 20 topics and 300 questions to help you discover your marriage expectations.


Helpful Worksheets, Activities, and Readings

Complete valuable worksheets to learn more about yourself and your partner and ways to enhance your communication, conflict resolution, and many more areas of marital topics.


Pricing

$100 per 50-minute session.
This cost includes a workbook and a $35 relationship assessment. 

**Unfortunately we do not take insurance at this time**

Schedule an Appointment

The Team

Jeremy Boden, PhD, LMFT

Director

Dr. Jeremy Boden, the owner and director, has dedicated his work to helping couples build knowledge, skills, and confidence that gives couples the best chance of having a great marriage. 



Dr. Boden is a licensed marriage and family therapist and an associate professor of family science at Utah Valley University where he teaches courses in romantic relationships, human sexuality, and couples therapy. Dr. Boden is married to his wonderful wife, Daria, and together they have four children.

Lisa Christensen, ALMFT

Therapist

I studied Marriage and Family Therapy at Seattle Pacific University and, previously, Music at BYU. 

I was drawn to helping couples prepare for marriage because I want to help couples on the front-end to build a healthy relationship where both people can thrive and have their needs met. I’m also drawn to helping married couples heal and enrich their marriage. 

I look forward to fostering a safe, reassuring, introspective space where you can gain a better understanding of your strengths, values, and points of difference as a couple and feel empowered to commit to one another from a place of knowledge and understanding -- a firm foundation for many years to come.

I am a great appreciator of the arts and I strive to participate in music, theater, art, and comedy whenever possible. 


Sarah Hughes, ALMFT

Therapist

Hello! My name is Sarah. I believe that every person and couple deserves to be healthy and whole. Every person has had unique experiences that have caused pain and strength, especially in dealing with sexual experiences. I am passionate about being with you as you explore your pain and find your courage. I believe that every person's and couple’s path to healing is very individual and I’m interested in a collaborative and compassionate approach that helps you take substantial steps towards healing. 

I have extensive training in EFT (Emotionally Focus Therapy) Gottman, EMDR, and Sex therapy.Healing can be a lot of hard work and scary, but healing trauma should not be traumatic. I commit to building an atmosphere with you that is safe and holds space for you as you navigate through your healing journey.


Popular Questions About Our Services

  • If we want to get premarital counseling but we are getting married in a few weeks, is there an option for that circumstance?

    Yes, we can tailor your preparation according to your needs. When you contact us, we will set up a free, brief consultation and discuss what will be best for your circumstances.

  • Is premarital counseling traditional therapy?

    It’s generally a mixture of relationship education and counseling. The goal of premarital counseling is to prepare, enrich, and evaluate your relationship for strengths and help you learn how to manage any challenges.

  • We are wanting to get married, but we've experienced many struggles and even conflict at times. Would the premarital protocol be appropriate for us?

    It depends. If you are in distress and not sure you want to get married, we can discuss these options and how our therapists will be most helpful.

  • Do you offer regular couple therapy to married couples?

    Yes, we don’t openly advertise toward married couples, but our therapists are trained to work with married couples as well. 

Contact Us

Text 1(801)4719146 for more information or to set up an appointment

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