Marriage Preparation is designed to help couples build a healthy marriage. Research suggests that the first two years of marriage are the formative years in which couples establish life-long patterns of relating to one another.

Cornerstone is pleased to offer Marriage Preparation in both a group workshop format as well as private, in-person sessions.

Content

  • Identifying areas of strength in your relationship
  • Communication methods to keep you growing in intimacy
  • Working together during difficult times
  • Using conflicts to strengthen your relationship
  • Successfully managing family finances
  • Understanding each others’ needs in the areas of sex and affection
  • Shaping the life you want to build together
  • How to make personality differences work
  • Nurturing your unique family unit

* Based on material from the Gottman Institute 

Workshop Details

This course consists of three, three-hour group sessions that focus on the content listed above. Once the group portion of the course is completed, a private session for you, your partner, and the course facilitator is arranged.

Group Sessions

Dates:

  • TBD

Times:

  • Thursday: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  • Friday: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
  • Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Individual Session

This session is for you and your partner to meet privately with the course facilitator. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss and expand on topics from the group sessions, and the material will be tailored to you. The individual session can be held remotely or in our office.

*This individual session is also used to debrief after completing the optional Gottman Relationship Checkup questionnaire. 

Cost

$390 / couple

* Couples who choose to complete the Gottman Relationship Checkup questionnaire will be required to pay an additional fee of $29 USD.

** This may be covered by many extended health insurance plans. We are unable to direct bill for group workshops. Space is limited, please register early.

Location

This course is held online using the Zoom platform.

Private Pre-Marital Counselling

This workshop may be completed privately with the course facilitator over three, two-hour sessions for a total of six hours. These sessions are held in-person at our office. Private pre-marital counselling is beneficial for couples who are looking for an approach that is tailored to their unique relationship. Private sessions offer the chance to spend more time on specific challenges couples may be facing. Dates can be booked at your convenience in the instructor’s schedule, with evening and weekend availability.

The standard cost is $150/hour for a total of $900. Private courses may be eligible for direct billing to your insurance provider. Depending on your gross household income and extended health benefits, you may be eligible for a subsidized rate on our sliding scale. Please refer to the contact information below for more information or to determine your subsidy eligibility.

For More Information & To Register

Payment must be received to confirm registration and indivdual sessions must be booked after the group workshop. Please contact Deidre Martens, Stakeholder Relations Coordinator.

Call 780.482.6215 ext. 222

d.martens@cornerstonecounselling.com

Facilitator

Alexandra Scivoletto, MAC

Registered Provisional Psychologist

Guest Speaker


Harkirat Teja – Senior Associate at Dentons Canada LLP

Email: harkirat.teja@dentons.com
Phone: 780-423-7289

Harkirat is a member of Dentons’ Trusts, Estates, and Wealth Preservation Group in Edmonton. Her practice is focused primarily on the areas of estate planning, estate administration, estate litigation, guardianships, and trusteeships. She has significant experience in drafting wills, power of attorney, and personal directives. Harkirat is dedicated to providing solutions for her clients with the utmost discretion. She is extremely knowledgeable in drafting all documents relating to estate plans, including prenuptial and cohabitation agreements, and testamentary and inter vivos trusts. Harkirat brings a wealth of knowledge to our Marriage Preparation Workshop in her Estate Planning for Newly Weds presentation. If you are interested in working with Harkirat, please contact her directly!

 

What People Are Saying About Marriage Preparation

  • We signed up for the workshop initially because it was a requirement if we wanted to be married by a pastor at our church. However, we thoroughly enjoyed it and if we had known such a workshop existed, we would have gone anyway. It was incredibly beneficial.
  • It was a fun and informative workshop. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot. I would recommend this to anyone that’s planning to get married.
  • Very organized, informative, clear, and fun. I learned a lot and this class will definitely be helpful for my marriage.

Customized Just For You

In addition to your Marriage Preparation Workshop, couples can utilize the Gottman Relationship Checkup assessment tool for a more comprehensive and personal analysis of their relationship strengths and areas of concern. The assessment is optional and costs $29 USD. Please note that this cost is not included in your workshop fee. Results from the assessment will be discussed at your individual couples counselling appointment.

The Gottman Relationship Checkup is an online assessment tool created by Drs. John and Julie Gottman in collaboration with The Gottman Institute in Seattle, Washington. The assessment is composed of 480 questions in 5 categories: Friendship and Intimacy, The Safety Scales, The Conflict Scales, The Shared Meaning System, and Individual Areas of Concern. Question topics include friendship, intimacy, conflict, finances, children, trust, commitment, drug and alcohol screenings, and individual issues that can put a relationship at risk.

For more information on the Gottman Relationship Checkup, visit their website at: https://checkup.gottman.com/

Cancellation Policy

Registrations cancelled 7 or more days prior to the event are refundable minus a $125 registration fee. Cancellations less than 7 days prior to the workshop are non-refundable.

We reserve the right to cancel workshops due to unforeseen circumstances or under-enrollment.