Question 1

How should we prepare for our first couples counseling session?

Accepted Answer

For your first couples counseling session, come with a shared goal, a few concrete examples of what keeps you stuck, and a willingness to listen. Complete any intake forms ahead of time. Decide if you prefer a 60- or 90-minute session and, for virtual counseling, test your private space and tech.

Couples & Marriage Counseling works best when you show up prepared and on the same team. Before your first couples counseling session with Kellen Mental Health, try these steps.

1) Get clear on what you want. Each partner writes 2 to 3 goals and one sign things are improving. Examples: calmer talks, rebuild trust, better teamwork with parenting, more closeness.

2) Bring a few recent examples. Pick one or two moments that capture the pattern. Note what happened, what you felt, and what you needed. This helps us map the cycle and start changing it using evidence-based therapy such as the Gottman Method, Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.

3) Complete any questionnaires ahead of time. Some couples also use tools like the Prepare/Enrich Assessment for Couples. If you are asked to take an assessment, do it separately, answer honestly, and avoid debating the questions at home.

4) Plan the logistics. Sessions are offered in 60 or 90 minutes, in person or through online therapy and virtual counseling. A 90-minute first session can help when time is tight or conflict is high. For Virtual Counseling, choose a quiet, private room and test your camera and sound on a secure video platform.

Come with questions about pacing (many couples start every other week), homework, and how to handle hot topics like intimacy, money, or infidelity. If you feel anxious, a few minutes of slow breathing before you log on or walk in can help you stay present.

Question 2

What is marriage counseling, and who is it for?

Accepted Answer

Marriage counseling (couples therapy) is structured, confidential therapy where a trained couples therapist helps partners improve communication, reduce conflict, and strengthen connection using evidence-based tools. It’s for any committed couple—dating, engaged, newly married, or long-married - who wants support with conflict, trust, intimacy, or life transitions. Sessions are available in person or via video. See Couples & Marriage Counseling in Alpharetta.

Marriage counseling gives you and your partner a neutral, supportive space to identify patterns that keep you stuck and replace them with healthier ways of communicating and repairing. At KMH, couples therapy focuses on developing practical problem-solving skills, improving communication, and building a stronger foundation—so disagreements become more productive and connection becomes easier to maintain.

Couples often seek marriage counseling to work on:

communication and conflict resolution
rebuilding trust after ruptures
intimacy and emotional closeness
parenting stress, work/life strain, money conflict, or major transitions

KMH uses multiple evidence-based approaches and tailors the plan to your relationship. Sessions are available in 60- or 90-minute formats and can be conducted in person or via video. To get started, review the service details on Couples & Marriage Counseling in Alpharetta, then reach out to our client care coordinator with any questions and to schedule an appointment. If you’re planning to meet remotely, you can also reference Online Counseling for virtual care options.

Question 3

What is the Prepare/Enrich assessment—and is it part of premarital counseling?

Accepted Answer

Prepare/Enrich (P/E) is an online couples assessment that highlights relationship strengths and growth areas—such as communication, conflict resolution, finances, and expectations—so your therapist can tailor sessions to your specific results. Yes—KMH uses the Prepare/Enrich assessment as part of premarital counseling to give engaged couples a clear, personalized roadmap. Please note: the Prepare/Enrich (P/E) assessment has an additional cost. Learn more at Prepare/Enrich Assessment for Couples and Premarital Counseling.

Prepare/Enrich (P/E) is a research-based, online questionnaire designed specifically for couples. After you and your partner complete it, the results generate a detailed profile across many relationship areas (communication, conflict resolution, finances, children/parenting, spiritual beliefs, and more), including a SCOPE personality profile. A certified facilitator then reviews your report with you and uses it to shape sessions around your actual strengths and sticking points—so counseling feels focused and practical instead of generic. Please note: the Prepare/Enrich (P/E) assessment has an additional cost.

At KMH, Prepare/Enrich is incorporated into premarital counseling to help engaged couples:

identify strengths to protect and build on
spot predictable conflict patterns early
practice skills that match your specific results (communication, repair, shared goals)

You can explore details at Prepare/Enrich Assessment for Couples, get started with Premarital Counseling, or choose a remote option through Virtual Premarital Counseling.

Question 4

What’s the difference between premarital counseling and couples therapy?

Accepted Answer

Premarital counseling is proactive and structured—designed to help engaged couples clarify expectations and build skills before marriage. Couples therapy supports partners at any stage and focuses more on healing conflict patterns, rebuilding trust, or strengthening connection when issues are already showing up. Learn more about Premarital Counseling and ouples & Marriage Counseling.

Both support a stronger relationship, but they start from different places.

Premarital counseling is usually more structured and forward-focused. At KMH, it includes the Prepare/Enrich (P/E) couples relationship assessment, which helps you and your partner get clarity on strengths, stress points, and growth areas—then use that insight to build practical tools for marriage. Premarital sessions commonly cover topics like communication, conflict and stress, finances, roles, intimacy, extended family, and future goals. Start here: Premarital Counseling in Alpharetta.

Couples therapy (couples and marriage counseling) is typically more repair-focused and flexible. It supports couples who want help changing entrenched patterns, improving emotional safety, navigating recurring conflict, healing after trust ruptures, or rebuilding connection. Learn more here: Couples & Marriage Counseling in Alpharetta.

If you’re engaged and want to prevent future “same fight” patterns, premarital counseling is often the best entry point. If you’re already feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed by conflict, couples therapy is usually the better fit. Both can be done in person or via Online Counseling.

Question 5

When should we choose a 90-minute couples session instead of 60 minutes?

Accepted Answer

We recommend 90-minute couples session when getting started or when you need more time to slow things down and make progress—especially if conflict is high, the topics feel complex, or your schedule limits you to meeting every other week. The extra 30 minutes gives both partners space to feel heard, practice communication tools, and leave with clear next steps instead of feeling rushed.

A 60-minute session is a great fit for steady progress, but we recommend starting with 90-minute sessions as they can be especially helpful when you want more breathing room to regulate emotions, understand patterns, and practice new skills in-session.

A 90-minute couples session is often the best choice when:

You are just starting couples therapy.
Conflict is intense or conversations escalate quickly. More time helps you slow down and work through the moment without cutting off mid-repair.
You’re working through bigger relational topics (for example: infidelity, parenting stress, intimacy challenges, money conflict, or long-standing communication cycles).
You’re meeting less frequently. KMH commonly schedules couples sessions every other week, and a longer session can help you cover more ground when sessions are spaced out.
You want time for skill practice. Many couples benefit from practicing real conversations in session—then leaving with a simple plan for what to try during the week.

We recommend couples start with a few 90-minute sessions and later shift to 60-minute “maintenance” once things stabilize. You can also meet in person or via secure video through Virtual Counseling & Therapy. If you’re not sure which length fits best, start with a consult via Couples & Marriage Counseling in Alpharetta and ask what your clinician recommends.

Couples, Marriage & Premarital

How should we prepare for our first couples counseling session?

What is marriage counseling, and who is it for?

What is the Prepare/Enrich assessment—and is it part of premarital counseling?

What’s the difference between premarital counseling and couples therapy?

When should we choose a 90-minute couples session instead of 60 minutes?

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