premarital counseling
Build the Foundation So You Can Build the Life
Premarital Counseling in Newport Beach, Fullerton, & Online Throughout California
Premarital sets the stage for understanding your partner more deeply before the pace of life makes that harder to do. I offer attachment-focused premarital counseling using the Prepare & Enrich assessment, one of the most respected tools in the field for helping couples see themselves clearly, celebrate their strengths, and get honest about the places that will need care.
What Is Premarital Counseling?
Ready to Begin? Let’s Talk.
The best investment you can make in your marriage is the one you make before it starts. I offer a free 15-minute consultation to talk through what you’re hoping to get from premarital counseling, the Prepare & Enrich process, and whether we’re a good fit.
investment
How much does premarital counseling cost?
I offer two packages, both including the Prepare & Enrich assessment and a reduced per-session rate. We’ll discuss which is the right fit during your free consultation.
The Premarital Foundation Program
Best for couples who are communicating well, feel fairly self-aware, and want a focused experience.
※ Prepare & Enrich online assessment for both partners
※ Complete Facilitator Report review
※ 8 sessions, 45 minutes each
※ Tailored focus based on what your results and relationship most need
Investment: $1,235
$35 Prepare & Enrich assessment fee + 8 sessions at $150 each
The Premarital Depth Program
Best for couples who desire space to explore the domains more naturally and engage more reflectively.
※ Prepare & Enrich online assessment for both partners
※ Complete Facilitator Report review
※ 12 sessions, 45 minutes each
※ Unhurried exploration of your relationship and histories
Investment: $1,835
$35 Prepare & Enrich assessment fee + 12 sessions at $150 each
The $35 assessment fee is paid directly to Prepare & Enrich when you register online. I’ll send you instructions after our consultation. Premarital counseling is typically not covered by insurance. I’m happy to discuss whether a superbill may be applicable to your situation.
PREMARITAL COUNSELING
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to be engaged to start premarital counseling?
No — you don’t have to have a ring or a date to benefit from this work. Some couples come in while seriously dating and considering engagement. The Prepare & Enrich assessment tailors its questions based on where you are in your relationship, so it works for both dating and engaged couples. If you’re in a committed relationship and thinking about a future together, this is a worthwhile investment at any stage.
What is the Prepare & Enrich assessment?
Prepare & Enrich is a research-backed relationship assessment developed by Dr. David Olson that helps couples understand their strengths and growth areas across 12 relationship domains — including communication, conflict, finances, family background, intimacy, and spirituality. Each partner completes it independently online, and the results are compiled into a detailed report we review together in our sessions. Studies show it reduces the risk of divorce by 31%.
Do we have to be religious to do premarital counseling with you?
Not at all. While the assessment includes questions about spiritual beliefs because they’re relevant to shared values and meaning-making, you don’t need to have a faith background to benefit from this work. I welcome couples from all backgrounds — religious, spiritual-but-not-religious, and secular. If faith is meaningful in your lives or relationship, I’m very comfortable working within that context.
How many sessions does premarital counseling typically take?
I offer two packages depending on what you’re looking for. The Premarital Foundation Program includes 8 sessions — enough time to review the assessment thoroughly and work through the areas most relevant to you. The Premarital Depth Program includes 12 sessions and is suited for couples with a desire to spend time examining the domains more thoroughly. We’ll talk through which feels like the right fit during your free consultation.
How is your premarital counseling different from a premarital course or workshop?
Courses and workshops deliver a curriculum — they’re useful but broadly designed. What I offer is personalized, attachment-informed therapy grounded in the specific results of your Prepare & Enrich assessment and your particular histories as individuals. Rather than working through a predetermined agenda, we follow what’s particularly relevant for you as a couple. It’s more personal, applicable to your dynamics, and the type of relationship you desire to have.
Can we continue as couples therapy clients after the premarital program?
Absolutely — and many couples do. Premarital counseling is a great foundation, and some couples want to continue the work as they move into the first year of marriage and the changes that come with it.
what we’ll explore together
➀
The consultation
We begin with a free 15-minute conversation so you can ask questions and get a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit.
➁
The assessment
Before our first full session, each partner completes the Prepare & Enrich online assessment independently. This takes about 20 minutes each and can be done from home.
➂
Unpacking the results
Together, we’ll review your Facilitator Report in depth. This is where the real conversation begins — not just what the assessment found, but what it means for you as a couple.
➃
Building skills and understanding
Over the remaining sessions, we’ll work through the areas that matter most — communication patterns, family-of-origin stories, expectations about roles, conflict, and repair.
premarital counseling
Build the Foundation So You Can Build the Life
Premarital Counseling in Newport Beach, Fullerton, & Online Throughout California
Communication Styles
Conflict & Repair
Roles & Expectations
Family Histories
Financial Values
Intimacy
Faith Backgrounds
Parenting Goals
Stress Patterns
What Is Premarital Counseling?
Getting married is one of the most significant commitments you’ll make. Premarital sets the stage for understanding your partner more deeply before the pace of life makes that harder to do. I offer attachment-focused premarital counseling using the Prepare & Enrich assessment, one of the most respected tools in the field for helping couples see themselves clearly, celebrate their strengths, and get honest about the places that will need care.
My approach draws on the same psychodynamic and attachment-based principles I use in all my work. We’ll use the Prepare & Enrich assessment as a structured starting point — a way of naming what’s already going well and surfacing the conversations that are worth having now, before they become harder to have later. The more you understand those dynamics before you’re in the thick of it, the more equipped you’ll be to navigate them well.
who this is for
Dating couples considering engagement who want to use this season wisely
Engaged couples who want to enter marriage with clarity, intention, and a deeper understanding of each other
Couples from different faith backgrounds, families, or life experiences
Partners navigating expectations around roles, money, intimacy, conflict, and repair
People who want to go deeper than wedding planning
Couples who want a structured assessment and meaningful conversation, not a generic course
Couples ready to build a foundation before they build a life
Couples who’ve each done individual therapy and are ready to bring that self-awareness together
Those from complicated family histories who want to understand how that shapes partnership
what we’ll explore together
➀
The consultation
We begin with a free 15-minute conversation so you can ask questions and get a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit.
➁
The assessment
Before our first full session, each partner completes the Prepare & Enrich online assessment independently. This takes about 20 minutes each and can be done from home.
➂
Unpacking the results
Together, we’ll review your Facilitator Report in depth. This is where the real conversation begins — not just what the assessment found, but what it means for you as a couple.
➃
Building skills and understanding
Over the remaining sessions, we’ll work through the areas that matter most — communication patterns, family-of-origin stories, expectations about roles, conflict, and repair.
investment
How much does premarital counseling cost?
I offer two packages, both including the Prepare & Enrich assessment and a reduced per-session rate. We’ll discuss which is the right fit during your free consultation.
The Premarital Foundation Program
Best for couples who are communicating well, feel fairly self-aware, and want a thorough but focused experience.
※ Prepare & Enrich online assessment for both partners
※ Complete Facilitator Report review
※ 8 sessions, 45 minutes each
※ Tailored focus based on what your results and relationship most need
Investment: $1,235
$35 Prepare & Enrich assessment fee + 8 sessions at $150 each
The Premarital Depth Program
Best for couples navigating more complexity — significant differences in background or faith, difficult family histories, or a desire for genuinely thorough preparatory work.
※ Prepare & Enrich online assessment for both partners
※ Complete Facilitator Report review
※ 12 sessions, 45 minutes each
※ Unhurried exploration of your relationship and histories
Investment: $1,835
$35 Prepare & Enrich assessment fee + 12 sessions at $150 each
The $35 assessment fee is paid directly to Prepare & Enrich when you register online — I’ll send you instructions after our consultation. Premarital counseling is typically not covered by insurance. I’m happy to discuss whether a superbill may be applicable to your situation.
PREMARITAL COUNSELING
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to be engaged to start premarital counseling?
No — you don’t have to have a ring or a date to benefit from this work. Some couples come in while seriously dating and considering engagement. The Prepare & Enrich assessment tailors its questions based on where you are in your relationship, so it works for both dating and engaged couples. If you’re in a committed relationship and thinking about a future together, this is a worthwhile investment at any stage.
What is the Prepare & Enrich assessment?
Prepare & Enrich is a research-backed relationship assessment developed by Dr. David Olson that helps couples understand their strengths and growth areas across 12 relationship domains — including communication, conflict, finances, family background, intimacy, and spirituality. Each partner completes it independently online, and the results are compiled into a detailed report we review together in our sessions. Studies show it reduces the risk of divorce by 31%.
Do we have to be religious to do premarital counseling with you?
Not at all. While the assessment includes questions about spiritual beliefs because they’re relevant to shared values and meaning-making, you don’t need to have a faith background to benefit from this work. I welcome couples from all backgrounds — religious, spiritual-but-not-religious, and secular. If faith is meaningful in your lives or relationship, I’m very comfortable working within that context.
How many sessions does premarital counseling typically take?
I offer two packages depending on what you’re looking for. The Premarital Foundation Program includes 8 sessions — enough time to review the assessment thoroughly and work through the areas most relevant to you. The Premarital Depth Program includes 12 sessions and is suited for couples with a desire to spend time examining the domains more thoroughly. We’ll talk through which feels like the right fit during your free consultation.
How is your premarital counseling different from a premarital course or workshop?
Courses and workshops deliver a curriculum — they’re useful but broadly designed. What I offer is personalized, attachment-informed therapy grounded in the specific results of your Prepare & Enrich assessment and your particular histories as individuals. Rather than working through a predetermined agenda, we follow what’s particularly relevant for you as a couple. It’s more personal, applicable to your dynamics, and the type of relationship you desire to have.
Can we continue as couples therapy clients after the premarital program?
Absolutely — and many couples do. Premarital counseling is a great foundation, and some couples want to continue the work as they move into the first year of marriage and the changes that come with it.
next steps
Ready to Begin? Let’s Talk.
The best investment you can make in your marriage is the one you make before it starts. I’d be glad to hear from you.
I provide premarital counseling in Newport Beach, CA, Fullerton, CA, and online throughout California, and offer a free 15-minute consultation to give you a chance to ask questions and get a sense of how we might work together. During the call we’ll:
⁕ Discuss what you’re hoping to get from premarital counseling
⁕ Talk about the Prepare & Enrich process
⁕ Answer any questions you have
⁕ See if we’re a good fit
Serving Orange County, California, and beyond.
offices
Fullerton
1619 East Chapman Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831
Newport Beach
1300 Quail Street, Suite 206, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Let’s Connect
info@nikolesparks.com
Available both in-person and online across the state of California.
Serving Orange County, California, and beyond.
offices
Fullerton
1619 East Chapman Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831
Newport Beach
1300 Quail Street, Suite 206, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Let’s Connect
info@nikolesparks.com
Available both in-person and online across the state of California.
Serving Orange County, California, and beyond.
offices
Fullerton
1619 East Chapman Ave, Fullerton, CA 92831
Newport Beach
1300 Quail Street, Suite 206, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Let’s Connect
info@nikolesparks.com
Available both in-person and online across the state of California.