Why Premarital Counseling?
There are a lot of reasons why a couple pursues premarital counseling… these are the things we hear from couples.
"The statistics tell us every other Marriage ends in Divorce…We don’t want to be a statistic.”
"I (we) come from a home that has been destroyed by divorce… we are looking for something different.”
“Marriage is obviously difficult; we want the best start we can give our marriage.”
“We really want to have a healthy growing marriage.”
Whatever your reason for pursuing premarital counseling, let us commend you! It seems interesting that in our culture, it takes more training and preparation to get a drivers license than it does to get a marriage license. In fact, as you celebrate your engagement you have probably already spent more time and money on your engagement and preparing for your wedding, than you will preparing for your marriage. Statistics seem to say so:
- Couples spend approximately $1,016 on their wedding rings (not including the engagement ring)
- The average wedding budget is $20,000 (not including the honeymoon)
- The average honeymoon budget is $3,657
- $4 billion per year is spent on honeymoons annually
- $19 billion per year is spent on wedding gift registries
- Most wedding guests spend between $70 and $100 on a gift
Let us congratulate you for investigating how to invest in your lifelong marriage. As a couple celebrating our 32nd year of marriage, we understand the challenges and delights of married life. We are very different from each other. That is why we offer our premarital counseling as a couple; two unique perspectives, type “A” and Type “B”, loud and quiet, male and female. We believe that face to face, couple to couple premarital counseling is the most effective preparation for marriage.
We believe the counseling relationship will enhance these days of anticipation, as we work together, as couples, exploring and discussing your future. In the Counseling relationship these are the values as we guard, as we all invest in this relationship include:
- Trust
- Authenticity
- Teachability
- Confidentiality
- Commitment to the process
We will cover an introduction to the origins of marriage, roles and responsibilities, communication and conflict resolution, sexual intimacy and building a life long learning posture. In addition, we would like for you to complete the Taylor, Johnson Temperament Analysis (TJTA), and the Prepare, premarital inventory. Each of these inventories has a $95 processing fee.
We anticipate six sessions with a couple. Sessions are often held near the couple’s location and at times, we will have a session in our home, as well. Each session lasts about ninety minutes and cost $95. In addition to the sessions we will ask couple to purchase and read 2-3 books and work on “out-of-session” assignments to enhance the work done when we meet together.
Please do not let finances get in the way of a Two Trees experience. Through the generosity of many, a partial grant from the Campership Fund may be just the gift you need to make it possible for you to attend an event. For more information and an application, please contact us through the contact page.
It may seem like great expectations but we have seen it pay off in hundreds of couples over the years. Check out the references below. Feel free to give us a call with your questions at (909)389-7786. Curt is an ordained Pastor and conducts a limited number of wedding ceremonies each year. Be sure, as well to see the premarital resources listed under "Getting Married" on our resource page.
"Curt & Rhonda did our Premarital Counseling!"
Steve and Stef
"Between Two Trees ministry has been an incredible blessing and catalyst for growth for my fiancée and me. Curt and Rhonda exemplify what they teach and have embraced us as individuals and as a couple with love and devotion. Stefanie and I have loved sitting through their pre-marriage seminars and have seen incredible fruit in our relationship as a result of it. We have also benefitted tremendously from their pre-marital counseling sessions where their use of personality analysis, deep theological reflection, best-in-class literature, and their own battle tested marriage provided us a holistic and wonderfully edifying experience. We would recommend Between Two Trees and Curt and Rhonda to anyone seeking to strengthen their relationship through seeking the Lord’s guidance and direction."
Brian and Steph
"We are overjoyed that Curt & Rhonda were the couple that counseled us while we prepared to marry. We looked forward to every real and refreshing conversation we had with them and felt much more prepared for marriage because of our time together. They are so easy to be with and model such healthy friendship and love. They led us through well chosen exercises, books, inventories, and tools that we are still referring to more than 2 year later. Curt & Rhonda were made for this! Their natural and inspiring way of working with couples at all stages of marriage is evidence of that. We want everyone we know to get the gift of time with the Hamner’s!"
Retreats
Join Curt and Rhonda as they facilitate couples conceiving and pursuing their dreams together.
For More Information Call Curt at (909) 389-7786 or email at curt.twotrees@gmail.com
Calendar
Please take a look at the 2012 Calendar; what is planned to ignite passion, strengthen commitment and deepen intimacy in your marriage.
Let us Design a Custom Retreat for your Group
of 6 - 8 Couples
What Others Are Saying
"My wife and I have known Curt and Rhonda for years. Simply stated, the work they've done with couples at every level of closeness puts them in our top "1%" of marriage coaches in America."
John Trent, Ph.D.
President
The Center for Strong Families
Co-Author of The Blessing
2-4 Day Retreats for Pastors and Ministry Leaders
With decades of ministry experience, the Hamners realized that they could be part of the answer to the question, “Who shepherds the shepherd?” These retreats happen at Heart’s Ease, the Hamners’ mountain home. For Information Call (909) 389-7786