Studies show that couples who learn proven relationship skills and increase their understanding of each other before marriage have happier, stronger marriages that last.

In fact, more and more couples are choosing premarital programs as a way to prepare for marriage. Last year, out of the 2.8 million American couples who got married, about 50 percent had some form of premarital counseling. Just 10 years ago, only about 10 percent had any.

Overwhelmingly, married couples say that premarital programs helped their marriage. One university study of 1,235 couples found that during their first year of marriage, more than 92 percent of couples said their premarital program was valuable. After four years of marriage, about 80 percent of couples still thought so.

For about the cost of a wedding cake, Happily Ever After helps couples:

• Communicate effectively, even during times of conflict or stress.
• Learn the emotional habits that build happy, long-lasting marriages more than 90% of the time.
• Discuss individual goals and preferences, in areas such as lifestyle, career, faith, parenting, money, and sex.
• Figure out how to make prior marriages, or children from earlier relationships, strengthen rather than weaken their marriage.
• Address fears or reservations about making a lifelong commitment.

What Is Included?

Happily Ever After is a streamlined, brief program that includes:

• A personalized report showing where you and your partner stand on the life areas known to predict marital success.
• Safe and gentle exploration of areas in your relationship that may get in the way of future happiness, and concrete steps you can take to strengthen these areas.
• Practice using skills shown in scientific studies to help people get respect, understanding, and caring from their partners, even during times of stress or conflict.
• A workbook with all the materials used in the program, your assessment results, and tips and tools you can use throughout your marriage.
• A beautiful Certificate of Completion for you or your pastor.

What It Won't Do

• The program won't tell you whether you are right for each other.
• The program won't tell you whether you should or shouldn't get married.
• The program won't tell you whether you will be happy together.
• The program won't tell you whether you are ready for marriage.

The decisions about your life are yours to make. However, being informed and having good communication skills can help you to make a sound decision, if you are unsure about the marriage.

How Does It Work?

The program includes 4-5 hours of face to face program time, with brief tasks that you and your partner complete between meetings. The program can be customized to meet your particular needs or the requirements of your pastor or celebrant.

Meeting 1	We discuss your goals for premarital counseling and any unique circumstances or questions you want to address as you prepare for your marriage (1 hour). Homework 1: At your convenience, you and your partner take 1 online assessment and complete 3 paper-and-pencil exercises.
Meeting 2	We review the results of your assessment and exercises, highlighting any flagged by the results as possible areas for focused discussion and answering questions about the results and what mean (2 hours). Homework 2: At your convenience, you and your partner watch a 45 minute DVD and read a few worksheets on the bad habits that cause couples to break up, and how successful, happy couples communicate.
Meeting 3	We review how the ideas presented in the DVD apply to your relationship, and what you can do to avoid the known factors that end relationships. We then practice the communication skills needed to build a strong marriage (1-2 hours, depending on your preference). You are presented with your Certificate of Completion.

How Do We Get Started?

Contact Elizabeth Sloan, LCPC, for a free telephone consultation on whether the program is right for you. The program is offered in Glenn Dale, Maryland and McLean, Virginia. Fees are based on actual hours of face to face time, and are payable at each session. Payment may be by cash, check, VISA/MasterCard, or Discover.