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Online Counseling 4 the Instnt Msg Generation

Couples who are separated by jobs, military service, or other life situations now have a state-of-the-art counseling option that can address their specific marital or premarital concerns.

Online counseling is a growing trend, with webcasting technology being used to connect couples and their counselor live. Kim Kimberling, Ph.D., author of two books on marriage and a professional counselor for more than 20 years, is one of the pioneers of this new trend. His programs, Preparing for the Marriage of a Lifetime and Living the Marriage of a Lifetime, are used by churches worldwide and now offered via the Internet as well.

Preparation for marriage and working to ensure your relationship stays strong takes work, and obviously it is harder for couples who are separated geographically for any length of time to participate in programs aimed at building and maintaining strong marriages, Kimberling said. Online counseling gives them a positive step they can take right away to preserve their relationship. Another important element is that couples in these online sessions are often more open and honest in discussing sensitive subjects than they are in face-to-face counseling.

A distance of more than 1,650 miles didn'st stop engaged couple David Nash and Tiffany Girard from participating in a marriage preparation class together thanks to Kimberling and the Internet. Although he was living in Texas and she in Connecticut, they were able participate in Kimberling'ss online course and now are happily married.

I was racking my brain to figure out how we were going to do a premarital class, Nash said.

It just blows my mind how well all the pieces fell into place for us. Being able to participate online was wonderful. In fact, it was better in some ways, said Girard. This (online) format sort of forces people to be completely honest, which is great for gaining a deeper understanding of each other.

The 11 topics covered in Kimberling'ss online marriage classes are the same as those discussed in the ones he offers in person, covering communication skills, compatibility, conflict resolution, financial management, sexuality and spirituality.

Participants watch the sessions online when most convenient for them. Then they have an opportunity to visit with Kimberling in personal online sessions. Kimberling said he was pleasantly surprised at how frank couples are in these online sessions, openly discussing relationship issues.

During the sessions Kimberling shares important tools for couples as they prepare for marriage or seek to improve their existing marital relationship. He also shares personal perspectives and examples from his own 35-year marriage.

This online course allows us to reach so many couples we might never get a chance to help otherwise, Kimberling said. Couples can take the class wherever they live. We also have many couples taking the course who aren'st separated geographically but like the convenience of doing the sessions online.

    

For more information about Kimberling'ss programs and books, or to register for an online class, visit www.prepformarriage.com.

Editor: Numerous examples of Dr. Kimberling'ss television and print interviews can be seen at www.prepformarriage.com. We also have couples available to interview who have taken the online counseling course. The following links provide some examples of Kim'ss interview style: Keeping Your Marriage Strong, 4 Financial Tips During a Struggling Economy, Questions for Every Couple Before Marriage.

For more information,

Contact: Staci Elder Hensley

or Theresa Green

405-844-2396

shensley @ evergreenproductions.net

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