Is premarital counseling even helpful? This is what we cover in the twelfth and final episode of the Getting Ready for Marriage series. In this podcast episode, Elizabeth Polinsky interviews Erica Callicutt, or Reverend Calli, on the benefits of premarital counseling.
IN THIS PODCAST
Why I am doing this series on Getting Ready for Marriage?
I had a wedding photographer reach out to me asking me to provide some tips for couples getting married. I created an entire checklist for her with the things I think are foundational for getting ready for marriage and starting off your marriage on the right foot. If you want the checklist, you can download it here!
Introduction to Reverend Calli
Liz's personal experience with premarital counseling
My husband and I used military one source for our permarital counseling. Military OneSource a free resource that is provided to Military families where they can get 12 sessions of free counseling a year. And so we did that for premarital counseling and we had a really horrible experience, which is so unfortunate. I think especially for military couples, Military OneSource is pushed as your resource for counseling and premarital counseling. We were pretty appalled though. The person really didn't work with couples; they worked with foster kids. They never even asked us if we had any concerns about our relationship. Then the moment I brought it up the concerns I had about getting married, the counselor said, "oh, I can't help you" then fired us as a couple. I was not happy with the quality of services I got with Military OneSource, but I also know I have a strong bias against it because we had a negative experience. I'm sure other people have more positive experiences.But part of what I wanted people to know for this episode, are that there are better options out there. So I'm glad we're going to talk about premarital counseling.
Have a sense of expectation... if you don't know what you are looking for, then you may be easily disappointed" -- Rev. Calli. Questions to discuss with your partner beforehand
People should have expectations of who they are working with and they should have high standards. And it's ok if you don't click with the person..find someone else" -- Elizabeth Polinsky Benefits to premarital counseling
If you allow yourself to be open to the process, there can be a lot of benefits.
We have to start with listening. With listening come empathy." -- Reverend Calli Process of premarital counseling
Signs of a good therapist or premarital counselor
Differences between working with a pastor vs. a therapist
Places to look for a premarital counseling
Working with Reverend Calli
You can work with Reverend Calli for premarital counseling or wedding services.
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Elizabeth Polinsky is a marriage and couple therapist specializing in working with military members, veterans, and their families. At the time of this recording, Liz travels between offices in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Fallon, Nevada. She provides online counseling services throughout Virginia, Nevada, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
DISCLAIMER: My podcast, blogs, videos, newsletters, and products are general information for educational purposes only; they are not psychotherapy and not a replacement for therapy. The information provided does not constitute the formation of a therapist-patient relationship. You should consult your doctor or mental health provider regarding advice and support for your health and well being. I cannot answer questions regarding your specific situation. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, you should call 911, report to your local ER, or call the National Crisis Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Nothing I post should be considered professional advice. The information in my podcast, blogs, videos, newsletters, and products are not intended to be therapy or psychological advice. The podcast, blogs, videos, newsletters, and products are not a request for a testimonial, rating, or endorsement from clients regarding counseling. If you are a current or former client/ patient, please remember that your comments may jeopardize your confidentiality. I will not “friend” or “follow” current or past clients to honor ethical boundaries and privacy; nor will I respond to comments or messages through social media or other platforms from current or past clients. Current and past client’s should only contact me through the professional contact information provided on the website. Lastly, accounts may be managed by multiple people. Therefore, comments and messages are monitored by staff and are not confidential.
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The Communicate & Connect Podcast
In Communicate & Connect For Military Relationships, I provide educational tips for relationships, communication, and navigating military family life. AuthorHey, I'm Dr. Elizabeth "Liz" Polinsky and I am a marriage counselor in Virginia Beach. I provide online counseling across the states of VA, MD, NC, SC, AR, and NV. Categories
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