PREMARITAL CHRISTIAN COUNSELING
BCI’s mission is to provide Christian counseling to help people worldwide live free and love well. We use proven counseling techniques alongside the solid counsel of Scripture to help clients learn healthy, more effective ways of dealing with life’s challenges.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our premarital counseling program consists of taking an initial online inventory called SYMBIS. This inventory provides a comprehensive snap shot of the relationship of an engaged couple including measurable scores in various areas of the relationship. Then, the couple has 8-16 follow up sessions with a trained counselor in order to discuss relational matters assessed by the inventory.
SYMBIS
WHAT IS THIS SYMBIS ASSESSMENT
ALL ABOUT?
PART 1
Personality assessment which assesses the following four areas: Assertiveness, Self Confidence, Avoidance, and Partner Dominance
PART 2
Relationship assessment which looks at the following areas: marriage expectations, personality issues, communication, conflict resolution, finances, leisure activities, sexual relationship, parenting, social, role relationship, and spiritual beliefs. Based on these items, each couple is identified as 1 of 5 types of couples ranging from Conflicted to Vitalized.
PART 3
Family and Couple Map – Family of origin issues and current relationship issues are charted to provide insight into dynamics of the couple relationship.
FOLLOW UP SESSIONS
IT'S TIME TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING
The counselor meets with the couple for 8-16 sessions either in a Pre-Marital 2-Day Intensive or over the course of 8-16 weeks to discuss the results of the inventory and lead the couple in actual exercises aimed at enhancing communication and understanding. This includes reviewing strengths and growth areas of the relationship, communication, assertiveness, active listening, conflict resolution, family of origin issues, and finances. Couples will also identify their relationship as one of five couple types and learn how, even though their differences have the potential to cause problems down the road, that they can avoid major issues and offload any excess baggage that they do not want to bring into the marriage.
