Preparing Couples for Love and Marriage
A Pastor's Resource
Published October 2013
Help couples begin a successful marriage and provide pre-marriage guidance in a flexible four-session framework.
Pre-marriage guidance in a flexible four-session framework to help couples begin a successful marriage. While no one can smooth away all the rough spots in the marital road ahead, couples can be coached to pay attention to warning signs, see the bumps before they hit them, and deal more skillfully with inevitable conflicts. The good news is that you don’t need any formal background in counseling, because the kind of work we’re talking about isn’t counseling—it’s coaching couples to respond positively to the differences between them. It’s not about having all the answers; but helping couples manage difficulties before they become serious threats to the marriage. For more tips, ideas, resources, and advice, go to preparingcouples.com.About the Authors
Cameron Lee
Cameron Lee, Ph.D., CFLE is Professor of Family Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. Dr. Lee is a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations, a licensed minister and teaching pastor, and a Licensed Trainer for Family Wellness. Lee established and directs the Fuller Institute for Relationship Education (FIRE), which seeks to help congregations create sustainable marriage education ministries through the low-cost training of volunteer leaders.
James L. Furrow
James L. Furrow, PhD CFLE is Evelyn and Frank Freed Professor of Marital and Family Therapy and chair of the School of Psychology s Department of Marriage and Family at Fuller. He is a clinical fellow and supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; a Certified Family Life Educator through the National Council on Family Relations, and a recognized leader in the development and practice of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), a leading approach to marital therapy.