CPMS™ Certification Path  |  Step 1

Introduction to Premarital Practice

Build a strong foundation for meaningful, effective premarital work.

An introduction to The Before I Do Method™ framework. Culturally responsive premarital preparation training for licensed clinicians who guide couples toward marriage, and the entry point of the Certified Pre-Marital Specialist™ (CPMS™) credential pathway.

$497  ·  11 NBCC clock hours

NBCC clock hours for licensed clinicians. My Mental Health University® is an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP #7739). See CE details ↓

Enroll Now ↓ Learn More ↓
Couple on their wedding day
Stronger Conversations
Healthier Marriages
Self-paced online training
Practical tools you can use right away
Designed for licensed clinicians
11 NBCC clock hours
30-day Directory trial included

Is This Course For You?

This course is for licensed mental health clinicians who want to confidently work with engaged couples.

Therapist meeting with a couple

Licensed Therapists

Add structured premarital work to your clinical practice.

Counselor welcoming a couple

Professional Counselors

LPCs, LCPCs, and LMHCs building confidence and clinical skills with engaged couples.

Clinical social worker meeting with a couple

Clinical Social Workers

LCSWs adding a structured premarital framework to their work with couples.

Engaged couple embracing on a couch

Marriage & Family Therapists

LMFTs and psychologists strengthening their premarital assessment and structure.

Earn 11 NBCC continuing education clock hours. Licensing boards vary; please check with your state board.

Every Couple Deserves a Strong Start

Learn to hold space with equal care for heterosexual, LGBTQIA+, polyamorous, interfaith, interracial, and cross-cultural couples.

Couple smiling togetherTwo men smiling togetherCouple smiling outdoorsTwo brides holding bouquetsCouple holding a globeTwo women smiling together
Couple sitting apart, disconnected
A clear starting point

You Want to Offer Premarital Counseling, But You May Not Know Where to Begin.

Most clinicians who guide couples toward marriage do it without a structured framework for the year before the wedding. Most were never trained on this. This introduction changes that.

Built on The Before I Do Method™ framework, this course walks you through the beginning of premarital preparation work: what to assess, what to ask, how to structure the arc of preparation, and how to hold space for heterosexual, LGBTQIA+, and polyamorous couples with equal care.

Every lesson pairs teaching with the evidence behind it. You will learn what the research supports, what it does not, and what you may not claim to the couples in front of you.

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What You Will Learn

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1Describe the foundations of premarital preparation as a distinct kind of work, separate from couples therapy.
2Identify the cultural, relational, and structural factors that shape a couple's readiness for marriage.
3Apply core assessment tools grounded in The Before I Do Method™ framework.
4Demonstrate how to frame premarital preparation with heterosexual, LGBTQIA+, and polyamorous couples in a way that is inclusive and grounded.
5Outline the arc of premarital care from first conversation through the year before the wedding.
6Evaluate when to refer, when to hold, and when to name a rupture.

What's Inside the Course

14 Chapters · 339 Lessons · Pre-Test, Post-Test, and Participant Evaluation included

01Introduction to Premarital Practice7 lessons
  1. Introduction
  2. About Your Instructor
  3. Course Overview
  4. Course Policies
  5. NBCC Continuing Education, Terms and Conditions
  6. Disclosure Statement
  7. Pre Test. Take this as your PRE-TEST before you begin (baseline, not graded). After you finish all modules, take the same test as your POST-TEST (graded, 80% to pass). The difference is your learning gain.
02Module 1: Marriage Preparation46 lessons
  1. Module 1: Marriage Preparation
  2. Part A: Pre-Assessment. Complete this before reading the chapter. A low score is a baseline, not a failure. The same statements are rated again at the end of the chapter.
  3. Learning Objectives
  4. PART ONE - How to Frame the Work
  5. The Premise That Is Never Satisfied
  6. The Problem Is Not Disagreement
  7. Disclosure, Not Resolution
  8. What Marriage Is, Historically
  9. What Marriage Is, Legally
  10. Dedication and Constraint
  11. The Asymmetry of Accrual
  12. Why Before the Wedding
  13. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  14. The Largest Study Ever Conducted
  15. What the Study Found
  16. What Actually Predicts Relationship Quality
  17. The Chart: What Predicts Relationship Quality
  18. What the Same Study Could Not Do
  19. An Independent Body of Evidence
  20. The Claim That Does Not Survive
  21. No Defensible Source
  22. What the Candidate May Not Claim
  23. What Premarital Education Actually Does
  24. The Chart: Divorce at Two Years, Higher-Risk Site
  25. PART THREE: How to Run the Session
  26. The Opener
  27. The Research Page
  28. The Case Scenarios
  29. In the Room: The Worked Script
  30. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools
  31. The Standing Protocol
  32. The Pledge
  33. The Scored Instrument
  34. PART FIVE: How to Stay in Scope
  35. Four Common Mistakes
  36. Scope and Referral
  37. The Scope Issue Specific to Chapter One
  38. Culture and the Definition of Marriage
  39. When the Couple Pushes Back
  40. Fitting Chapter One Into a Session
  41. Summary
  42. Complete the Questionnaire
  43. References
  44. Questionnaire
  45. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  46. Part B: Applied Reflection. Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
03Module 2: Attachment Styles31 lessons
  1. Module 2: Attachment Styles
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand Attachment
  4. A Documented Phenomenon
  5. Where the Theory Comes From
  6. Two Dimensions, Not Four Boxes
  7. The Chart: Two Dimensions, Not Four Boxes
  8. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  9. Moderately Stable, and It Changes
  10. The Chart: Moderately Stable, and It Changes
  11. Security Can Be Earned
  12. A Modest Predictor, Not a Destiny
  13. The Chart: A Modest Predictor, Not a Destiny
  14. What You May Not Claim
  15. PART THREE: How to Run the Session
  16. The Four Styles
  17. The Pursue-Withdraw Cycle
  18. The Self-assessment
  19. In the Room: The Worked Script
  20. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools
  21. The Assessments and the Map
  22. Secure Base, and Past Patterns
  23. PART FIVE: How to Stay in Scope
  24. Four Common Mistakes
  25. Scope and Referral
  26. Summary
  27. References
  28. Complete the Questionnaire
  29. Questionnaire
  30. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  31. Part B: Applied Reflection. Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
04Module 3: Modern Dating & Relationship Readiness30 lessons
  1. Module 3: Modern Dating & Relationship Readiness
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand Modern Dating
  4. How Couples Meet Has Genuinely Changed
  5. The Chart: How Couples Meet Has Changed
  6. The Paradox of Choice
  7. Ghosting, Breadcrumbing, and Love Bombing
  8. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  9. Apps Did Not Break Love
  10. The Claims That Need Careful Wording
  11. What You May Not Claim
  12. PART THREE: How to Run the Session
  13. Normalize, Then Examine
  14. From App to Altar
  15. The Readiness Self-assessment
  16. In the Room: The Worked Script
  17. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools
  18. The Self-assessment and the Inventory
  19. The Checklist and What We Skipped
  20. PART FIVE: How to Assess Readiness and Stay in Scope
  21. The Three Domains of Readiness
  22. Choosing Versus Settling
  23. Four Common Mistakes
  24. Scope and Referral
  25. Summary
  26. References
  27. Complete the Questionnaire
  28. Questionnaire
  29. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  30. Part B: Applied Reflection. Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
05Module 4: Exes & Past Entanglements27 lessons
  1. Module 4: Exes & Past Entanglements
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand the Past a Partner Brings
  4. Baggage Versus Experience
  5. Relational Schemas the Template Underneath
  6. When the Past Shows up in the Present
  7. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  8. Boundaries and Co-parenting: What Holds Up
  9. Grief Is Not a Five-stage Sequence
  10. What You May Not Claim
  11. PART THREE: How to Run the Session
  12. Baggage, Experience, Schemas
  13. Boundaries With Exes
  14. The Grief Self-assessment
  15. In the Room: The Worked Script
  16. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools
  17. Mapping the Past and the Boundaries Agreement
  18. The Grief Tools and the Ending Letter
  19. PART FIVE: How to Stay in Scope
  20. Four Common Mistakes
  21. Scope and Referral
  22. Summary
  23. References
  24. Complete the Questionnaire
  25. Questionnaire
  26. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  27. Part B: Applied Reflection. Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
06Module 5: Situationships27 lessons
  1. Module 5: Situationships
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand Situationships
  4. The Premise You Are Not in One Now
  5. Why the Patterns Stick Attachment Under Stress
  6. The Pursue-withdraw Loop and What a Partner Brought In
  7. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  8. Fear of Being Single and Choosing From Security
  9. Decide, Do Not Slide and Change Is Possible
  10. What You May Not Claim
  11. How to Run the Session
  12. Why the Patterns Stick
  13. How to Overcome
  14. The Security & Clarity Reflection
  15. In the Room: The Worked Script
  16. How to Use the Tools
  17. The Three Worksheets Past, Patterns, Future
  18. Asking Directly and the Scored Reflection
  19. PART FIVE: How to Stay in Scope
  20. Four Common Mistakes
  21. Scope and Referral
  22. Summary
  23. References
  24. Complete the Questionnaire
  25. Questionnaire
  26. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  27. Part B: Applied Reflection. Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
07Module 6: Self-Esteem & Self-Worth27 lessons
  1. Module 6: Self-Esteem & Self-Worth
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand Self-Worth in Marriage
  4. Why Self-worth Belongs in a Marriage Book
  5. What Self-esteem Is and Is Not
  6. How Low Self-esteem Shows up in Love
  7. How to Read the Evidence
  8. Self-compassion a Steadier Place to Stand
  9. What You May Not Claim
  10. How to Run the Session
  11. How Low Self-esteem Shows Up
  12. Two Ways to Stand
  13. The Self-worth Reflection
  14. In the Room: The Worked Script
  15. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools
  16. The Story and the Couple Worksheet
  17. The Practices and the Reflection
  18. PART FIVE: How to Stay in Scope
  19. Four Common Mistakes
  20. Scope and Referral
  21. Summary
  22. References
  23. Complete the Questionnaire
  24. Questionnaire
  25. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  26. Part B: Applied Reflection. Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
  27. Part B: Post-Assessment. Rate the same statements again and compare with your pre-assessment. The difference is your learning gain for this module.
08Module 7: Infidelity31 lessons
  1. Module 7: Infidelity
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand Infidelity
  4. There Is No Agreed Definition
  5. What the Numbers Actually Say
  6. The Chart: What the Numbers Say
  7. The Forms It Takes
  8. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  9. Microcheating Is Not a Research Construct
  10. Financial Infidelity Defined by Concealment
  11. Why It Happens Risk Factors, Not Destiny
  12. Which Hurts More and Why It Does Not Matter
  13. What You May Not Claim
  14. PART THREE: How to Run the Session
  15. The Numbers and Forms
  16. Where Couples Disagree
  17. Our Shared Definition of Fidelity
  18. In the Room: The Worked Script
  19. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools
  20. The Definition, The Line and the Trust Inventory
  21. The Tools for Repair Forgive, and the Letters
  22. PART FIVE: How to Support Recovery and Stay in Scope
  23. If It Has Already Happened Recovery Is Possible, and Fragile
  24. Four Common Mistakes
  25. Scope and Referral
  26. Summary
  27. References
  28. Complete the Questionnaire
  29. Questionnaire
  30. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  31. Part B: Applied Reflection. Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
09Module 8: Communication30 lessons
  1. Module 8: Communication
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand Communication
  4. Communication Is Feeling Heard
  5. Listening Is a Researched Skill
  6. Conflict Is Not the Enemy Flooding Is
  7. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  8. I-statements and NVC Tools That Lower the Guard
  9. Men and Women Communicate More Alike Than Different
  10. The Chart: More Alike Than Different
  11. The Gender-communication Myth
  12. Phubbing the Phone on the Table
  13. What You May Not Claim
  14. PART THREE: How to Run the Session
  15. True Listening and I-statements
  16. The Two Tools: I-statement and NVC
  17. The Communication Reflection
  18. In the Room: The Worked Script
  19. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools
  20. Styles, and the Listening Drill
  21. The Agreement, and Cooling Down
  22. PART FIVE: How to Stay in Scope
  23. Four Common Mistakes
  24. Scope and Referral Flooding Versus Fear
  25. Summary
  26. References
  27. Complete the Questionnaire
  28. Questionnaire
  29. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  30. Part B: Applied Reflection Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
10Module 9: Conflict Resolution30 lessons
  1. Module 9: Conflict Resolution
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand Conflict
  4. Conflict Is Not the Enemy Unrepaired Conflict Is
  5. The Cycle Is the Enemy Not Your Partner
  6. The Demand-withdraw Pattern
  7. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  8. How Big Is the Demand-withdraw Effect?
  9. The Chart: The Demand-Withdraw Effect, to Scale
  10. Flooding, and Why the Break Matters
  11. Repair the Skill That Predicts Lasting Love
  12. Some Differences Get Solved Others Get Managed
  13. What the Research Does, and Does Not, Settle
  14. What You May Not Claim
  15. PART THREE: How to Run the Session
  16. The Cycle Is the Enemy
  17. Healthy Conflict and Red Flags
  18. The Conflict Resolution Reflection
  19. In the Room: The Worked Script
  20. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools
  21. Cycle-mapping, and the Repair Toolkit
  22. The Flooding Plan, the Rules and the Letter
  23. PART FIVE: How to Stay in Scope
  24. Four Common Mistakes
  25. Scope and Referral Flooding Versus Fear
  26. Summary
  27. References
  28. Complete the Questionnaire
  29. Questionnaire
  30. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
11Module 10: In-Law & Extended-Family Conflict24 lessons
  1. Module 10: In-Law & Extended-Family Conflict
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand In-Law Dynamics
  4. It Is About Loyalty Not the Relatives
  5. Culture Frames What Counts as a Boundary
  6. PART TWO: How to Read the Evidence
  7. Triangulation and Differentiation Bowen's Lens, Not a Prediction
  8. What the Research Does, and Does Not, Settle
  9. What You May Not Claim
  10. PART THREE: How to Run the Session
  11. Five Strategies, and the Red Flags
  12. Loyalty Mapping
  13. The Readiness Reflection
  14. In the Room: The Worked Script
  15. PART FOUR: How to Use the Tools and Stay in Scope
  16. The Tools
  17. Four Common Mistakes
  18. Scope and Referral
  19. Summary
  20. Complete the Questionnaire
  21. References
  22. Questionnaire
  23. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  24. Part B: Applied Reflection Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
12Module 11: Political & Values Differences24 lessons
  1. Module 11: Political & Values Differences
  2. Learning Objectives
  3. PART ONE: How to Understand Disagreement Styles
  4. Agree on How You Disagree Not on Everything
  5. Affective Polarization Has Raised the Load
  6. The Chart: The Load Has Risen
  7. The Three Kinds of Disagreement
  8. What the Research Does, and Does Not, Settle
  9. What You May Not Claim
  10. PART TWO: How to Run the Session
  11. The Three Types
  12. Healthy Navigation and Red Flags
  13. The Political Readiness Reflection
  14. In the Room: The Worked Script
  15. PART THREE: How to Use the Tools and Stay in Scope
  16. The Tools
  17. Four Common Mistakes
  18. Scope and Referral Neutrality, and the Red Flags
  19. Summary
  20. Complete the Questionnaire
  21. References
  22. Questionnaire
  23. Part A: Knowledge Check. Choose the single best answer.
  24. Part B: Applied Reflection. Respond in 400–600 words. This is scored on a competency rubric.
13Post-Test1 lesson
  1. Cumulative Test (20 items · multiple choice · 80% to pass)
14Participant Evaluation4 lessons
  1. Your feedback is required for home-study continuing-education credit and helps us improve the course. Please complete after finishing the lessons and the post-test. Thank you.
  2. Your Next Step: The CPMS™ Certification
  3. The Method in Writing: Your Graduate Discount
  4. Claim Your 30-Day Directory Trial

What You Get

Training plus practical, ready-to-use tools.

Self-Paced ModulesCovering the beginnings of premarital preparation work
Case ExamplesAcross heterosexual, LGBTQIA+, and polyamorous couples
Assessment PromptsPractical prompts for your next conversation with a couple
Pre- & Post-TestMeasure your own learning gain
CertificateIssued automatically when you complete the course
12 Months AccessUnlimited access from your date of enrollment
11 NBCC Clock HoursFor licensed clinicians, through an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP #7739)
30-Day Directory TrialA free 30-day Featured Pro listing on the Premarital Counseling Directory™ (then $49/month; cancel anytime)

Your CPMS™ Certification Path

This course is Step 1 of the Certified Pre-Marital Specialist™ pathway for licensed clinicians.

Step 1 · You are here

Introduction to Premarital Practice

Build your foundation. $497 · 11 NBCC clock hours.

Start here
Step 2

CPMS™ Specialist

Earn the Certified Pre-Marital Specialist™ credential. $2,995 · 16 NBCC clock hours.

Step 3

Lead & Master Premarital Specialist™

Advanced tiers for clinicians who want to lead, train, and certify others.

Olivia L. Baylor, LCPC, NCC, BC-TMH
Meet your instructor

Olivia L. Baylor

LCPC, NCC, BC-TMH, CFMHE

Olivia L. Baylor is the founder of My Mental Health University® and creator of The Before I Do Method™. She developed The Before I Do Method™ through years of premarital clinical practice, and it now anchors her books, her couples courses, and the Certified Pre-Marital Specialist™ credential pathway.

Her work serves heterosexual, LGBTQIA+, and polyamorous couples with equal care.

“Whether this is your first couple or you have been sitting with couples for years, this is where you begin.”— Olivia L. Baylor

Continuing Education & Course Policies

NBCC continuing education information for licensed clinicians

NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider
Program title
Introduction to Premarital Practice
Presenter
Olivia L. Baylor, LCPC, NCC, BC-TMH, CFMHE, Founder, My Mental Health University®
Clock hours
This program offers 11 NBCC continuing education clock hours.
Target audience
Licensed mental health clinicians: professional counselors (LPC, LCPC, LMHC), clinical social workers (LCSW), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), and psychologists.
Instructional level
Introductory
Format / delivery
Self-Paced, On-Demand (home study)
Content areas
Counseling Theory/Practice and the Counseling Relationship; Assessment; Social and Cultural Foundations; Human Growth and Development.
Program cost
$497.00
Access period
12 months of unlimited access from your date of enrollment.
How to earn CE credit
(1) Complete all lessons in order, (2) pass the Post-Test with a score of 80% or higher, (3) complete the Participant Evaluation, (4) download your certificate of completion, which is issued automatically in your Thinkific account. Partial credit is not available.
Assessment format
The Post-Test is a native Thinkific quiz of 20 multiple-choice items. A score of 80% (16 of 20) is required to pass, and you may retake the Post-Test until you pass. The Participant Evaluation is required to receive your certificate.
Certificate
Issued automatically in your Thinkific account once all requirements are complete. It lists your name, the program title, the clock hours earned, the date, and My Mental Health University®'s ACEP No. 7739.
State board acceptance
Licensing boards vary. Please check with your state licensing board to confirm that NBCC continuing education clock hours are accepted for your license.
Refund / cancellation
This course is a final sale and does not offer refunds.
Grievances
Participants with concerns or complaints should submit them in writing to My Mental Health University® at [email protected]. All grievances will be reviewed and addressed in a timely and fair manner, with appropriate remedies provided when necessary.
Accommodations
My Mental Health University® is committed to creating inclusive and accessible learning experiences. If you require accommodations due to a disability or other need, please contact us in advance at [email protected] so that reasonable efforts can be made to support your participation.
Disclosure
Olivia L. Baylor, LCPC, is the owner of My Mental Health University® and receives compensation from course registrations. She is also the author of The Before I Do Method™, which is referenced in the course. No commercial support was received for this program.
Technology
A reliable internet connection and an up-to-date web browser.
Questions
[email protected]

My Mental Health University® has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7739. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. My Mental Health University® is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. NBCC's approval does not constitute endorsement by NBCC of specific program content, faculty, or facilities.

Wedding rings and white rose

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this course for?
Licensed mental health clinicians who want to confidently work with engaged couples: professional counselors (LPC, LCPC, LMHC), clinical social workers (LCSW), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), and psychologists.
Do I need prior premarital counseling experience?
No. Whether this is your first couple or you have been sitting with couples for years, this is where you begin.
Is this the full CPMS™ certification?
No. This course is Step 1, the entry point of the Certified Pre-Marital Specialist™ (CPMS™) pathway for licensed clinicians. The credential itself is earned in Step 2, CPMS™ Specialist.
What happens after I complete this course?
Your certificate of completion is issued automatically in your Thinkific account. Licensed clinicians can continue to Step 2, CPMS™ Specialist.
What is included?
Self-paced modules, case examples, practical assessment prompts, a pre- and post-test, an automatic certificate of completion, 12 months of access, 11 NBCC clock hours for licensed clinicians, and a free 30-day Featured Pro listing on the Premarital Counseling Directory™.
How long do I have access?
12 months of unlimited access from your date of enrollment.
What is the refund policy?
This course is a final sale and does not offer refunds.
What is the grievance policy?
Participants with concerns or complaints should submit them in writing to My Mental Health University® at [email protected]. All grievances will be reviewed and addressed in a timely and fair manner, with appropriate remedies provided when necessary.
What is the accommodations policy?
My Mental Health University® is committed to creating inclusive and accessible learning experiences. If you require accommodations due to a disability or other need, please contact us in advance at [email protected] so that reasonable efforts can be made to support your participation.
Does the instructor have any conflicts of interest?
Olivia L. Baylor, LCPC, is the owner of My Mental Health University® and receives compensation from course registrations. She is also the author of The Before I Do Method™, which is referenced in the course.
Take the first step

Start with the Foundation.

Build the knowledge and practical skills you need before moving into CPMS™ certification.

Enroll Now · $497 ↓