Premarital Counseling in Atlanta, GA
Pre- Marital CounselingHelping engaged couples strengthen communication, navigate differences, and build a healthy marriage before saying "I do.
When you doMarriage Is One Of Life's Biggest Commitments
You spend months planning your wedding.
Choosing a venue.
Sending invitations.
Tasting cake.
Meeting with vendors.
Yet the relationship itself often receives far less preparation than the celebration.
Premarital counseling gives you something much more valuable than the perfect wedding day.
It helps you build the foundation for a healthy marriage that lasts long after the honeymoon ends.
Preparing Well Is One Of The Wisest Things You Can Do
Choosing to prepare for marriage isn’t a sign that something’s wrong — it’s a sign of wisdom and commitment. Every couple brings different histories, expectations, and communication styles into a marriage, and the early work of understanding those differences can prevent years of unnecessary conflict later. Couples who invest in premarital counseling tend to enter marriage with greater confidence and a stronger ability to navigate the inevitable bumps ahead.
Building Skills Before You Need Them
Most of us were never taught how to handle conflict, talk about money, or stay emotionally connected under stress. Premarital counseling is where you learn those skills before the pressures of married life arrive — so that when challenges come, you already have a way through them together.
Invest in your future marriage!
The season before marriage is full of excitement — and a lot of wedding logistics. It’s easy for the relationship itself to take a back seat to the planning. But the couples who thrive long-term are usually the ones who invested early in how they’ll love each other, not just how they’ll celebrate the wedding day.
Premarital counseling gives you that head start. It’s a chance to understand each other more deeply, work through the topics couples often avoid, and step into marriage with clarity, confidence, and a shared set of tools.
Premarital Counseling Do You Want To Start Your Marriage On Solid Ground?
Are you engaged or planning to marry, and want to build a foundation that lasts?
Do you and your partner communicate well most of the time, but notice certain topics — money, family, intimacy, faith — that you tend to avoid?
Do you want to walk into marriage with real tools, not just hope and good intentions?
Have one or both of you carried past hurts you don’t want to bring into your new life together?
What Is Premarital Counseling?
Premarital counseling is a structured process that helps engaged couples strengthen communication, prepare for marriage, explore important life topics, and develop healthy relationship skills before their wedding day.
Rather than waiting until problems develop after marriage, premarital counseling helps couples build a strong foundation from the very beginning.
Counseling for Engaged CouplesYour Wedding Lasts One Day…Your Marriage Lasts A Lifetime…
The greatest investment you can make isn't only in the celebration.
It's in the relationship you'll wake up to every morning afterward.
If you're ready to begin your marriage with confidence, intentionality, and practical tools for a lifetime together, I'd be honored to walk alongside you.
Prepare for your Marriage Before it Starts!
Premarital Counseling
Topics we may explore in01. Establishing boundaries in marriage and other relationships
02. Affair proof your marriage
03. Conflict resolution and communication skills
04. The emotionally healthy marriage
05. Financial management
06. Sex and intimacy
Rather than guessing what marriage will require, you'll leave with practical tools you can use for years to come.
Christian Premarital Counseling
For couples who desire it, we are happy to integrate Christian faith and biblical principles into the counseling process while continuing to use evidence-based relationship approaches. For those who prefer to keep it more general, that’s welcome too. You can read more about faith-integrated care on my Christian therapy page.
I’m Kaara Kiddoe, LCSW, with ten years of experience helping couples build and rebuild strong relationships. I love premarital work because it’s a chance to set couples up to flourish — to give them the tools and understanding that so many couples wish they’d had from the start.
Meet KaaraPremarital Counseling Tailored To You As A Couple
I believe one of the greatest gifts you can give your future spouse is doing the work to become the healthiest version of yourself before marriage begins. I use Prepare/Enrich, one of the most widely used and well-researched premarital assessments available. You’ll each complete a confidential questionnaire, and together we’ll explore the results across key areas of married life — communication, conflict resolution, finances, expectations, intimacy, family of origin, and shared goals. The assessment gives us a clear, personalized map of your relationship’s strengths and the areas worth growing.
From there, I tailor our work to who you are as a couple. For couples who simply want a strong, healthy start, we focus on communication and connection skills, expectation-setting, and a shared vision for your life together. Because I’m also an Emotionally Focused and trauma-trained therapist, I can go deeper when it’s needed. If one or both of you carries past trauma, or if you’re navigating wounds from previous relationships, I bring my emotionally focused therapy and trauma therapy lenses into the work so those experiences don’t quietly shape your marriage down the road.
Are you ready to take the first step?
Are you ready to take the first step?
Success StoriesWhat my clients have to say about working with me
Jared are Kaara are my favorite marriage missionaries. They love God and marriage and are always wanting and willing to help others in their covenant marriage process. The Retreat was a fantastic time that was both uplifting and fun. The retreat mixes relaxation, fun, and education, all into one. One of the best times and greatest experiences!
— The Tinsleys
Authentic Marriages is a fantastic way to invest in your marriage. Kaara and Jared are a wonderful couple who okay off of each other so well. They’re honest and funny and normalize couples counseling and therapy. They make it fun! I left feeling enthusiastic and reenergized about being married. My main takeaway is to invest in your marriage.
— A. Titus
Authentic Marriages has been such a gift to my husband and I, we are so grateful for the couples that attend and offer wisdom, laughter, and a community committed to honoring marriage and faith. We are three retreats in and so impressed by the intention and commitment of the Authentic Marriage team!
— J. Davis
Frequently Asked Questions
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Getting along well is a wonderful starting point — and premarital counseling makes it even stronger. The goal isn’t to find problems; it’s to deepen your understanding of each other and build skills for the seasons ahead. Strong couples become even stronger with intentional preparation.
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Getting started is simple. Reach out through our inquiry form we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.
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It varies by couple. Prepare/Enrich is typically completed over a focused series of 8-12 sessions, and we’ll set a pace that fits your timeline and your goals. I’ll give you a clear sense of the structure when we begin.
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Yes. We can tailor the work to fit your schedule, and even a focused set of sessions can make a meaningful difference. The investment you make now pays dividends for years to come.
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We recommend beginning premarital counseling at least 4–6 months before your wedding whenever possible. Starting early gives you enough time to thoughtfully explore important topics without adding unnecessary stress during the final weeks of wedding planning.
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Premarital counseling covers many of the conversations that are essential for a healthy marriage, including:
Communication and conflict resolution
Expectations for marriage
Family backgrounds and attachment styles
Finances and financial decision-making
Physical and emotional intimacy
Roles and responsibilities
Faith and spiritual beliefs
Parenting and future family plans
Boundaries with extended family
Navigating life transitions together
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