How Christian Marriage Counseling Can Incorporate Faith and Science

Marriage is considered to be one of God’s greatest gifts, but it doesn’t come with an instructional manual. It can be expected a newly married couple will move in together and experience true joy and fulfillment, but as time moves on, there may be a need for a “tune up”.  Traditional non-Christian marriage counseling helps build healthy relational habits, mutual support, and provides skills to help build healthier communication patterns. Christian marriage counseling takes the same set of challenges, incorporates similar methods, but works through the challenges experienced in a relationship by incorporating practical skills with Biblical wisdom.

Blending Faith and Science

Marriage is a commitment between two people who both are experiencing emotions, daily stress, and individual differences. From relational science, you will learn tools to help improve communication, build trust, and manage conflict in a healthy manner. These measures are researched using tools like the Gottman Method which show effectiveness in restoring marital satisfaction. From a faith perspective, marriage counseling reminds couples about God’s design for marriage using scripture, grace, and prayer. Science can teach you the “how”, Faith can teach you the “why”. These two methods when combined can help couples grow closer to one another as well as simultaneously growing closer to God.

What to Expect from Christian Marriage Counseling

Like standard marital counseling, Christian counseling aims to create an environment where a couple can come together and feel safe to share without fear of judgement. This safe space allows for couples to talk through conflict in a setting designed to build trust and increase marital satisfaction. Using a James 1:19 approach, Christian counseling at Simplify Life teaches how to be slow to speak and quick to listen. In addition to a safe setting, learning practical tools to help avoid criticism and defensiveness incorporate an Ephesians 4:15 approach, to speak truth in love. Having the Biblical foundation in place, couples can expect to learn how to incorporate prayer into the marriage, read and incorporate the design of a Biblical marriage into daily life, and learn that healing starts with extending grace and forgiveness to your partner similar to the grace and forgiveness that Christ has extended to you. Does this sound challenging to do? With a focus on the heart of each person, there is hope and growth in the insight learned from sessions.

It isn’t about “Fixing”

Marriage counseling using a Biblical perspective isn’t rooted in “fixing” the other person. Christian marriage counseling invites Biblical scriptures and themes to help foster a healthy foundation to build your marriage. There will be exercises taught during sessions that can be applied within the home. There won’t be an expectation to try a technique within the home without first doing it in the therapy safe space. In a marriage setting, the marriage is the client, not the individuals. Once the couple goes through Christian marriage counseling at Simplify Life, they will be equipped to foster healthy communication, learn interpersonal conflict, and live a marriage that is rooted in Scripture keeping God at the center.

Unsure if Christian marital counseling is right for you and your spouse?

Our team has individuals trained in the Gottman Method, and individuals who are Prepare and Enrich facilitators who understand the dynamics of relationships and are prepared to work with you and your spouse. We aim to create a safe environment to explore feelings to foster growth in all marital settings.

Call today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward helping your child thrive.