'Tie that Binds' helps strengthen relationships

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, many couples are beginning to focus their attention on celebrating and strengthening their relationships. In an effort to provide just such an opportunity, the Lipscomb University Counseling Center is offering its services for couples, especially engaged couples, interested in devoting a little time to strengthening their relationships.

The counseling center’s annual pre-marital program, “The Tie That Binds” will take place February 2 and continue Saturday, February 3 in the counseling center underneath Elam Hall, 3901 Granny White Pike.

Space is still available for people wanting to attend the seminar. To sign up, call 615.966.1781. The cost is $35, which, along with discussion sessions on major issues that affect marriage, includes optional testing to determine personality type and one that determines possible trouble areas for your marriage. Also included are snacks on Friday along with continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Other sessions are available for one-on-one feedback with counselors to evaluate results of the tests.

“The premarital counseling will also enable couples getting married in Tennessee to get a substantial discount on their marriage license,” said Dave Morgan, director of testing services and therapist in Lipscomb’s counseling center. “The workshop only costs $35 and you save about $60 off your marriage license so it helps cut costs.”

During the seminar, couples will discuss and work through issues that typically trouble married couples. Counseling center staff members will lead the discussions on issues such as communication, finance, personality types, sex and the impact family dynamics have on how people handle situations, said Morgan.

"We, as a society, understand the importance of preparing for many of life's transitions – driving a car, entering the next level of school, starting a career,” said Morgan. “Marriage is also a major transition, and we should prepare for it as such. That is why the Counseling Center is offering this seminar. We want to use our skills to help couples prepare for this major transition.”

Jenny (Ashby) Barker, who attended the program the summer before she was married, said attending the program was well worth her time.

“The seminar was definitely an eye opening experience,” said Barker. “The seminar allowed my husband and me to see that other couples face the same or similar situations we face. If it hadn’t been for the seminar, we would not have been prepared to handle many of the issues that come up in day-to-day living. The issues we discussed at the seminar really are the issues that impact our marriage.

“The genogram study was particularly helpful because we were able to observe the relationship dynamic of our parents and grandparents and work through the dynamic we have as a result of their influence.”

For more information about “The Tie That Binds” or about the Lipscomb Counseling Center, contact Morgan at dave.morgan@lipscomb.edu or at 615.966.6303.