What is a marriage checkup?
• Time to stop and take stock. We check the oil in our car regularly but how many of us ever stop just to check on our marriage, and ask each other, "how are we doing?"
• The marriage checkup is conducted by a highly trained professional who is specially trained as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT).
• The certified MFT has a minimum of a master's degree in a related field, a minimum of two years' post-graduate clinical experience, and maintains membership in OAMFT, and governance by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
• The checkup is a confidential 50-minute interview with you and your partner. It will shed light on the strong points in your marriage as well as any potential problem areas.
• It's a way of strengthening and protecting your marriage.
• It's an early warning system that helps you recognize and deal with the small problems before they become more serious.
• Helpful resources will be given to each couple that participates to help keep the dialogue going.
Who should get a marriage checkup?
• The checkup is offered to all couples, whether young or old, married or common-law, newlywed or longtime partners, same-sex or heterosexual.
Why you should consider a marriage checkup
• Because healthy relationships and healthy families are the lifeblood of the community.
• There's a lot to be said for prevention.
• Marriage can be a real challenge as the statistics on divorce clearly show.
• Taking a preventative approach can help you face the challenges with greater success.
• Whatever you're dealing with -- stress, bereavement, child-parent conflicts, sexual problems, care of elderly parents, substance abuse -- acting sooner rather than later can help you weather the storm and protect your marriage.
• The pace of daily life can get pretty crazy. It's easy to coast along and only deal with things after they become a problem. Marriage and family relations are no exception.
When should you get a marriage checkup?
• Try a free marriage checkup during the week of Valentine's Day, February 13-17, 2006.
