{"id":42,"date":"2022-10-31T17:20:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T17:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/optioncchurch\/2022\/10\/31\/marriage-resources\/"},"modified":"2022-12-08T21:14:17","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T03:14:17","slug":"marriage-resources","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/optioncchurch\/2022\/10\/marriage-resources\/","title":{"rendered":"Marriage Resources for Couples who Need Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"Couple
Couple holding wedding rings. Do\u011fukan Benli\/Pexels.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The number one recommendation people ask me for are marriage resources. It\u2019s usually an awkward conversation. \u201cDo you have something that can help our marriage?\u201d is not an easy question to ask. Asking for help seems to get harder the more you need it.\u00a0Below are my favorite resources for couples who are looking to get married, need a boost or checkup, and those who are in crisis. None of these is a substitute for good marriage counseling.<\/p>\n

Gottman Marriage Counselors<\/h3>\n

Unfortunately many counselors are getting out of marriage counseling, and those who provide it are frequently not taking new clients. I\u2019m constantly impressed with the materials put out by the Gottman Institute and know they have a list of marriage therapists who are trained in their system. You can access their directory here<\/a>. These are not \u201cChristian marriage therapists\u201d but often that\u2019s okay! When you need heart surgery you want a skilled surgeon, not a mediocre Christian doctor. When you need marriage therapy you need a good therapist, not just someone who will hold your hand and pray. That said, interview your therapist. Take the time to ask them how they view faith, what they think about divorce, would they recommend pornography (yes\u2026it\u2019s a thing\u2026a bad thing, but a thing), and make sure their answers line up with your beliefs.<\/p>\n

A Weekend You\u2019ll Remember<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a couple in crisis therapy is often the best choice. Another option is a program called Retrouvaille<\/a>. This Catholic-based retreat is led by couples who have come out of crisis. You attend a nearby weekend retreat (usually Friday night \u2013 Sunday night) and then support group meetings afterward. You are partnered with another couple who has experienced real life change through Retrouvaille. They work with you to guide and equip you out of crisis.<\/p>\n

An Ounce of Prevention<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a couple ready to get married then I strongly recommend pre-marital counseling with a SYMBIS facilitator. \u201cSYMBIS\u201d is \u201cSaving Your Marriage Before It Starts\u201d by Les & Leslie Parrott<\/a>. This great resource is a book, workbook, couple assessment, and coaching sessions. Some churches run this as a couples class or as a one-on-one program with a pastor or mentor couple. Many professional therapists also offer this program.<\/p>\n

A Book Study<\/h3>\n

Maybe you\u2019ve been married for awhile and you simply want a check-up. If so, I recommend reading A Lasting Promise<\/a> together. This book is like self-study marriage counseling and covers everything from communication to sex. It needs to be read together, so don\u2019t pick this up unless your spouse is enthusiastically on board.<\/p>\n

Listen to Podcasts Together<\/h3>\n

There are a lot of marriage podcasts out there. The Gottman\u2019s have their own short podcast full of great suggestions for your marriage. Another great podcast for married couples is One Extraordinary Marriage by Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo<\/a>. This couple has been through several marital crises, fought for their marriage, stayed together, and are now doing their best to resource other couples. They have a podcast, magazine, and several books covering a variety of subjects. They frequently discuss sex and intimacy from a Christian couple\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n

These are just a handful of the great resources available to anyone who wants them. Let it encourage you to try something new, to get the help you need, and to improve your marriage.<\/p>\n

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The number one recommendation people ask me for are marriage resources. It\u2019s usually an awkward conversation. \u201cDo you have something that can help our marriage?\u201d is not an easy question to ask. Asking for help seems to get harder the more you need it.\u00a0Below are my favorite resources for couples who are looking to get […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4845,"featured_media":378,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family"],"yoast_head":"\nMarriage Resources for Couples who Need Them<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The number one recommendation people ask me for are marriage resources. It's usually an awkward conversation. 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