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Techniques and Interventions in Premarital Counseling
A 90-minute clinical training with Olivia L. Baylor, LCPC. Learn how to structure the first session, use core techniques like I Statements, Pass the Pen, and genograms, guide couples through money, intimacy, and family conversations, and work with confidence across LGBTQIA+, interracial, interfaith, and non-traditional couples.
Who This Course Is For
Clinicians who see couples, or want to, and need a clear, structured approach to premarital work.
Every couple deserves a counselor who sees them: engaged, LGBTQ+, polyamorous, interfaith, and interracial couples.
What You Will Learn
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
From the first session to the last
Most clinicians were never trained for premarital work. This course gives you a structure: what to do in the first session, which techniques to reach for, and how to open the conversations couples avoid.
You will leave with homework assignments and psychoeducational materials you can hand to couples the same week.
What's Inside the Course
5 chapters · 36 lessons
01Welcome to the Course9 lessons
- Before You Start
- Introduction
- Who I Am
- Disclaimer
- How to Obtain Your Credit
- Course Overview
- Learning Objectives
- Pre-Test (15 questions, no passing score)
- Workbook for Course (download)
02Module 1: Preparing for Premarital Counseling6 lessons
- Introduction to Premarital Counseling
- Know Your Theories
- Cultural Competence Foundations
- Be Comfortable with Sexual Language
- Assessments & Questionnaires
- Knowledge Check (3 questions)
03Module 2: The Initial Session and Core Techniques6 lessons
- Module 2 Introduction
- Structuring the Initial Session
- Core Techniques: I Statements
- Core Techniques: Pass the Pen
- Genogram
- Knowledge Check (3 questions)
04Module 3: Key Premarital Topics6 lessons
- Module 3 Introduction
- Communication: Verbal & Non-Verbal
- Sex and Intimacy: Normalizing the Conversation
- Financial Disclosure: Debt, Credit Scores, Spending Habits
- Children, Death, and In-Laws
- Knowledge Check (3 questions)
05Module 4: Diverse Couples and Your Niche9 lessons
- Module 4 Introduction
- LGBTQIA+ Couples
- Non-Traditional Relationship Structures
- Building Your Premarital Counseling Niche
- Course Wrap-Up and Next Steps
- Knowledge Check (3 questions)
- References
- Post-Test (score 80% or higher)
- Certificate & Evaluation
What You Get
Continuing Education
This program offers 1.5 NBCC continuing education clock hours.
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.
- Instructional level: Intermediate
- Format: Self-paced, on demand
- Content areas: Social & Cultural Foundations; Assessment; Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice
- Program cost: $149
- How to earn credit: complete all lessons in order, pass the post-test with 80% or higher, complete the participant evaluation, then download your certificate.
- State board acceptance: licensing boards vary. Please confirm with your state board that NBCC clock hours are accepted for your license.
- Refunds: This course is a final sale and does not offer refunds.
- Accommodations: email [email protected] and we will make reasonable efforts to support your participation.
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About Your Instructor
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 course, and the Certified Pre-Marital Specialist™ credential pathway. Her work serves heterosexual, LGBTQIA+, and polyamorous couples with equal care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours does this course offer?
This program offers 1.5 NBCC continuing education clock hours.
How do I earn my certificate?
Complete all lessons in order, score 80% or higher on the post-test (you may retake it), complete the participant evaluation, then download your certificate. It is issued automatically in your account.
Is it live or self-paced?
Self-paced and on demand. Start anytime and finish on your schedule.
Will my state board accept these hours?
Licensing boards vary. Please check with your state licensing board to confirm that NBCC continuing education clock hours are accepted for your license.
What level is this course?
Intermediate. It is designed for licensed clinicians who see, or plan to see, couples.
Do you offer accommodations?
Yes. If you need accommodations to access the course materials, email [email protected] and we will make reasonable efforts to support your participation.
Start Techniques and Interventions in Premarital Counseling Today
Self-paced, on demand, with your certificate issued automatically when you finish.