| How do you know when it's time for marriage | | | | |
| counseling? Easy. Are you in a relationship, | | | | -Take time out from the busy-ness of life and |
| even a good one? Then it is time. | | | | become clear on what your common goals are |
| | | | and how you want to get there |
| Years ago my wife and I participated in an | | | | |
| organization called "Marriage Encounter," | | | | -Strategize how you will handle holiday |
| which emphasized communication techniques. | | | | get-togethers with in-laws and other |
| I've always liked its motto: "Making Good | | | | relatives that are not that pleasant to be |
| Marriages Even Better!" | | | | with |
| | | | |
| That's what I hope to emphasize for you | | | | And this is just the beginning. There is so |
| today. It's time to make your good | | | | much we can do to improve these marvelous |
| relationship even better! | | | | relationships we've been given. |
| | | | |
| And how do I suggest you do that? If you have | | | | Is it worth the cost? I think of it in terms |
| a relationship that is doing pretty good and | | | | of the old question at the end of life: Will |
| doesn't really need any help, then I want you | | | | you wish you had spent more time at work, or |
| to go to Marriage Counseling! | | | | more time on your family and marriage? |
| | | | |
| You may think that counseling is only for | | | | For most of us, the answer is clear. There is |
| problems, but that's not so. People without | | | | nothing in the end more important than our |
| all those nasty problems can use the process | | | | relationships to the people we treasure. |
| to create far better lives than they ever | | | | |
| imagined. | | | | The cost of taking yourselves to a counselor |
| | | | and working on life together is really |
| I so love it when a couple comes to me just | | | | nothing compared to the lifetime of joy and |
| to grow. I'll admit that this is usually not | | | | wonder that is possible with your partner. |
| the case. It usually takes pain to get people | | | | |
| through my office door. But, occasionally, | | | | The grocery bill, the car payments, the |
| couples come to me just to make their good | | | | mortgage, the clothes for the kids and the |
| relationship even better. What fun that is! | | | | thousands of other things we feel we must |
| | | | spend our money on will all argue against |
| So, what does a couple do in therapy if they | | | | this couple counseling opportunity. |
| have no problems to work on? There are SO | | | | |
| many things we can do: | | | | However, I suggest that it is not an issue of |
| | | | whether you can afford it, but whether you |
| -Develop even more sophisticated | | | | can afford to not do it. Is your relationship |
| communication abilities | | | | really good enough for you, or do you wonder |
| | | | if there is more? |
| -Use psychological instruments (tests) to | | | | |
| determin differences, simularities, and how | | | | Go for it! Grab all the love and togetherness |
| to complement each other's personality gifts | | | | you can get! And use a counselor to help you |
| | | | see what you may be missing. |
| -Seek spiritual growth together | | | | |