St. Raphael Counseling Launches New Six-Week Marriage Preparation Program

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St. Raphael Counseling, a ministry of Catholic Charities, is excited to introduce a new six-week Marriage Preparation Program, designed to help engaged couples build a strong faith-filled foundation for lifelong partnership. Endorsed by the Archdiocese of Denver, this program reflects St. Raphael Counseling’s commitment to supporting healthy marriages by combining sound psychological science with Catholic teaching. 

St. Raphael Counseling provides compassionate, professional mental health services rooted in the dignity of the human person and the hope of healing. Our licensed clinicians serve individuals, couples, families and students through counseling that integrates evidence-based care with respect for the Catholic understanding of the whole person — mind, body and spirit. 

The marriage preparation program is clinician-led and uses the trusted PREPARE/ENRICH framework, an evidence-based assessment and enrichment tool widely used in marriage preparation. Couples begin by completing the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment, which helps identify strengths, areas for growth and shared goals. From there, a licensed clinician from St. Raphael Counseling guides couples through six structured sessions that are both practical and deeply personal. 

Each week focuses on a core aspect of married life. Couples develop healthy communication skills, learning how to listen with empathy and speak with clarity and respect. Sessions on conflict resolution equip couples with the tools to navigate disagreements constructively, rather than avoiding them. The program also addresses finances, helping couples have honest conversations about budgeting values and financial decision-making before marriage. 

Recognizing marriage as both a human and spiritual vocation, St. Raphael Counseling intentionally weaves in conversations about faith, intimacy and companionship. Couples reflect on how shared faith can strengthen their bond, how emotional and physical intimacy can grow over time and how friendship and mutual support sustain marriage through life’s challenges. 

Throughout the six weeks, couples benefit from the guidance of a trained clinician who creates a safe, supportive environment for open dialogue. The result is not only preparation for a wedding day, but also formation for a marriage rooted in communication, trust, faith and love. 

St. Raphael Counseling’s new Marriage Prep Program offers couples a meaningful pathway to begin a fruitful married life. 

The first session of St. Raphael Counseling’s Marriage Prep Program ran from January 15 through February 19, and filled quickly. The next session is anticipated to begin around Easter, offering additional couples the opportunity to participate.