Preparing Couples for Love and Marriage

by Cameron Lee and James L. Furrow. Copyright 2013 by Abingdon Press.

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Author Archives: Cameron Lee

Be curious

June 30, 2014by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

Sometimes as you’re helping a couple through their managed mini-conversations, especially with the easier topics, things go so easily as to make the exercise seem unnecessary.  Their written responses to […]

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Don’t settle for “Fine”

May 16, 2014by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

When you send a couple home to have their own conversations, you always check in with them at the next appointment.  The reason, of course, is to find out where, […]

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Encourage them in what works

February 11, 2014by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

As we’ve said in the book, the point of the preparation process is not to enforce rules that must be observed in every conversation, but to help couples communicate more […]

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Help them empathize with each other’s stress

January 13, 2014by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

One of the first exercises you do with couples is to teach them “constructive communication.”  And before you get to the principles of listening and speaking, you will be teaching them […]

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Keep positive goals in front of them

December 12, 2013by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

One of the most enjoyable aspects of doing premarital preparation is the opportunity to work with couples before negative patterns and bad habits become set in stone.  There may be […]

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Listen for concerns beneath the questions

November 15, 2013by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

In the second mini-conversation between the couple, you are asking them to take turns expressing to each other the questions they had after reading each other’s responses on a particular […]

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Go with the flow

October 16, 2013by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

In Preparing Couples, we’ve given you a detailed but flexible structure for coaching couples through mini-conversations about things that matter.  Sometimes, the conversation might stray; they start with one topic […]

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Keep the conversation between them

September 28, 2013by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

Here’s a common scenario.  You’re coaching a couple through a conversation.  At one point, you make a comment, say, to the bride-to-be, ask her a question.  Naturally, she responds to you […]

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Encourage the habit of appreciation

September 11, 2013by Cameron Lee Leave a comment

Helping a couple develop positive relationship habits will make the marriage stronger and more resilient.  Encouraging them to express appreciation to each other is a good example.  Here’s one way […]

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Most recent tips

  • Be curious
  • Don’t settle for “Fine”
  • Encourage them in what works
  • Help them empathize with each other’s stress
  • Keep positive goals in front of them

Archive of past tips

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"Truly, a great resource for building stronger marriages."
--David H. Olson, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota; Founder of PREPARE/ENRICH

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