Right from the Start: A Pastor's Guide to Premarital Counseling

Here's a twist: This book opens by wondering out loud whether premarital counseling is even effective. Is there a point to meeting with couples a few times before they marry --- only to watch them get divorced later?

This honest, no-holds-barred book is written for counselors, ministers and others who work with dating and engaged couples. No technical jargon here; this is not an academic textbook. It is also not a "theology of marriage" book --- plenty of those right here on Amazon.

This book (please pick up the related book for couples, it's remarkable) helps counselors get to the heart of the matter. As the authors point out "a little drama now beats a lot of trauma later" (their quote).

Witty, funny, insightful and somehow encouraging despite the often serious nature of the chapters and discussions here. Hugely readable. You'll find yourself bookmarking these pages and returning often. Large format gives you plenty of room for marginal notes and personal observations.

A remarkable achievement from two accomplished authors, veteran family counselors Dr. David and Lisa Frisbie. It's clear that they have not wasted their three decades of helping marriages thrive and go deep.