If you provide biblical marriage counseling for struggling couples, then I don’t have to tell you that marriage counseling is hard work. Troubled couples can find it difficult to identify the most pressing issues in their marriage.
While a detailed Personal Information Form (PIF) is very helpful, I have found that hurting couples often do not have the mental/emotional energy to share such exhaustive information before the first meeting. Plus, in some church cultures, the idea of completing a lengthy form before getting to talk to a pastor or counselor feels too clinical.
So, I typically reserve the longer PIF for after our first meeting. Before our first meeting, I ask each spouse to complete a one-page, five-question form—The Marriage Counseling Goals and Focus Form—and return it to me before we meet. I’ve found that this brief form brings great clarity to the issues we need to address. And, it provides us with enough initial information for several sessions worth of helpful marriage counseling. The Marriage Counseling Goals and Focus Form helps couples and counselors collaboratively develop Christ-centered goals.
The Marriage Counseling Goals and Focus Form
For a one-page Word edition of the form, go here: The Marriage Counseling Goals and Focus Form. Here are
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