Services / Premarital counseling
Build the foundation, so you can build the life.
How do you build a marriage that lasts? It starts before the wedding. This is a chance to give the marriage the attention it deserves. Couples come to me because they want to start with more than good intentions. I bring warmth, curiosity, and real affection for this season of your life. We’ll use the Prepare & Enrich assessment to open the conversations worth having now. Attachment-focused premarital counseling in Newport Beach, Fullerton, and online throughout California.
Request a free consultation →What is premarital counseling?
The earlier you invest,
the more it pays off.
Getting married is one of the most significant commitments you’ll make, and how you prepare for it matters. Premarital counseling is a structured preparation that gives you and your partner space to explore your expectations, communication styles, and family histories before the wedding, while you still have the time and space to do it well.
We use the Prepare & Enrich assessment, a research-based tool more than 4 million couples have taken, as our starting point. From there, we’ll notice what’s already working, and get curious about the conversations worth having now, before life’s pace makes them harder to have later.
Curious who you’d be working with? Read more about Nikole.
My approach →Who this is for
For couples who want to start their marriage with understanding.
The process
What to expect, step by step.
We begin with a free 15-minute phone call so you can ask questions and get a sense of whether working together feels like a good fit.
Before our first full session, each partner completes the Prepare & Enrich online assessment independently. It takes about 20 minutes each, from home.
Together, we review your report in depth. This is where the real conversation begins. We talk about what the assessment found, and what it means for you as a couple.
Over the remaining sessions, we work through your foundational topics — communication patterns, family-of-origin stories, expectations about roles, conflict, and repair.
Packages & pricing
Choose the depth that fits you.
Both include the Prepare & Enrich assessment and a reduced per-session rate. We’ll discuss which fits during your free phone call.
Ideal for engaged couples who feel connected and ready to take the next step into marriage with clarity, strong tools, and a shared vision.
Designed for couples who want time to go deeper. Whether navigating sticking points or simply giving your relationship unhurried preparation.
All packages are priced as a flat investment, so you know exactly what to expect. Payment plans are available: split into two equal payments with the first due at booking, or equal weekly payments.
Where we meet
In Newport Beach, in Fullerton,
or from your own living room.
I see couples for premarital counseling at my Newport Beach office on Quail Street, near John Wayne Airport, and at my Fullerton office on East Chapman, which tends to suit couples coming from north Orange County. Some couples meet online for part of the work, especially in the months when wedding planning takes over the calendar. The assessment and the conversations are the same either way.
Who you’d be working with
Start at the beginning.
I love this work because we get to lay a foundation. My role is to get curious about the two of you: how each of you learned what love looks like, what home meant growing up, what you reach for when things get hard. My hope is that you leave knowing each other a little deeper, and have a way to keep having conversations that matter long after the wedding.
More about me →Premarital counseling
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to be engaged to start?
No. You don’t need 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 to 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.
When should we start before the wedding?
Earlier tends to be easier. Six months to a year out gives you room to have the harder conversations without the date pressing on them, and time to keep going if something important comes up. Couples also start with only a few months to go, and the work still has plenty to offer. If the wedding is close, we can talk about which topics to put first.
What is the Prepare & Enrich assessment?
Prepare & Enrich is a research-backed relationship assessment developed by Dr. David Olson. It maps your strengths and growth areas across 12 relationship areas: communication, conflict, finances, family background, intimacy, spirituality, and more. Each partner completes it independently online, and the results become a detailed report we review together.
Do we have to be religious to work with you?
Not at all. The assessment includes questions about spiritual beliefs because they’re relevant to shared values and meaning-making, but you don’t need a faith background to benefit. I welcome couples from all backgrounds, and if faith is meaningful in your relationship, I’m very comfortable working within that context.
How many sessions does it take?
I offer two packages. The Marriage Prep Package includes 8 sessions, enough to review the assessment and focus on the areas most relevant to you. The Complete Premarital Program includes 12 sessions, suited for couples who want to examine the domains more thoroughly. We’ll talk through which fits during your free phone call.
How is this different from a premarital course?
Courses and workshops deliver a curriculum. It’s useful, but broadly designed for everyone, not just you. What I offer is personalized, attachment-informed time grounded in the specific results of your Prepare & Enrich assessment and your particular histories. Rather than a predetermined agenda, we follow what’s most relevant for you as a couple.
Can we do premarital counseling online?
Yes. I offer premarital counseling by telehealth for couples anywhere in California, and the Prepare & Enrich assessment is completed online at home anyway. Some couples do every session by video; others mix online sessions with in-person ones in Newport Beach or Fullerton.
Can we continue as couples therapy clients afterward?
Absolutely, and many couples do. Premarital counseling is a great foundation, and some couples want to continue into ongoing couples therapy as they move into the first year of marriage and the changes that come with it.
Next steps
Ready to begin? Let’s talk.
I offer a free 15-minute phone call to talk through what you’re hoping to get from premarital counseling, the Prepare & Enrich process, and whether we’re a good fit.
Request a free consultation →