Pre-Marital Defense & Fitness Program

Building Relational Defense Systems & Marriage Fitness Before You Say "I Do"

Most pre-marital counseling checks boxes. Ours builds skills, strategies, and systems that protect and strengthen your marriage for decades.

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Traditional Pre-Marital Counseling Falls Short

❌ Surface-Level Discussions

Most programs cover topics without teaching practical skills. You talk about conflict, but never learn how to actually manage it.

❌ One-Size-Fits-All Approach

Generic advice that doesn't address your unique communication styles, money stories, or vulnerability patterns.

❌ No Follow-Through System

You leave with good intentions but no concrete plan for maintaining your marriage when life gets hard.

The MHDF Difference: Defense + Fitness

We don't just talk about marriage—we build actual systems to protect your relationship from threats and protocols to keep it strong.

DEFENSE

Building protective systems against common relationship threats:

🛡️Communication breakdown
🛡️Destructive conflict patterns
🛡️Emotional disconnection
🛡️Financial infidelity
🛡️Intimacy challenges
🛡️External pressures

FITNESS

Developing psychological conditioning and resilience:

💪Emotional regulation skills
💪Healthy repair strategies
💪Vulnerability capacity
💪Trust-building habits
💪Maintenance protocols
💪Long-term adaptability

Your 3-Session Journey

Session 1: Defensive Foundations

2 Hours | 100% Virtual

Build your communication defense systems and establish rules of engagement for conflict.

The SHIELD Communication Defense Method
Your Couple's Conflict Charter
Emotional Safety & Security Systems
Understanding stress communication patterns

Session 2: Fitness Training for Intimacy

2 Hours | 100% Virtual

Strengthen connection through sexual intimacy fitness and financial health protocols.

Shame-free sexual dialogue and expectations
Understanding your money stories
Financial transparency frameworks
Decision-making protocols for sex and money

Session 3: Advanced Defense & Long-Term Fitness

2 Hours | 100% Virtual

Create your personalized marriage maintenance plan and address your unique needs.

Your Marriage Defense & Fitness Plan
Preventive maintenance schedule
Warning signs & intervention strategies
Optional: Blended families, children, or in-laws

Your Investment

$1,200

Complete 3-Session Program (6 Hours Total)

Regular individual session rate: $600/hour

Program value: $3,600

Save $2,400 with Program Package

Cash or Card Only | No Insurance Billing

What's Included

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Comprehensive Workbook

50+ page resource guide with all exercises, templates, and frameworks

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Assessment Tools

Communication, intimacy, and financial assessments for deep insight

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Personalized Plan

Your custom Marriage Defense & Fitness Plan to guide your first years

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Session Recordings

Access to all session recordings for 90 days after completion

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Action Templates

Conflict Charter, SHIELD worksheets, and maintenance schedules

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6-Month Check-In

Optional discounted follow-up session ($250 value)

What Couples Are Saying

"We thought we were good communicators until we went through this program. The SHIELD method completely changed how we handle disagreements. We actually use our Conflict Charter—it's posted on our fridge! This wasn't just counseling, it was training for our marriage. Worth every penny."

— Sarah & Michael T., Program Graduates

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this program for?

Couples planning to marry within the next 24 months who want to build strong foundations before their wedding. Both partners must attend all sessions.

Is this suitable if we're already having problems?

This program is designed for couples in healthy relationships who want to prevent problems. If you're in active crisis, individual couples counseling is recommended first.

How long does the program take?

Three 2-hour sessions (6 hours total) plus homework between sessions. The entire program must be completed within 90 days of your first session.

What if we need to reschedule?

We require 48-hour notice for rescheduling. Sessions must be rescheduled within the 90-day program window.

Can we use insurance?

No, this program is cash/card only. We do not bill insurance for the pre-marital program package.

Is it really virtual? Will that work?

Yes! 100% of our sessions are conducted via secure video conferencing. Many couples prefer the convenience and privacy of meeting from home.

What makes this different from church pre-marital counseling?

While we respect faith-based counseling, our program focuses specifically on mental health, communication psychology, and building practical defense systems. We're clinical, skills-focused, and evidence-based.

About Your Counselor

Rory E. Carothers Sr., LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor | 20-Year Army Veteran

With over two decades of military service and specialized training in trauma, PTSD, and relationship counseling, I bring a unique perspective to pre-marital work. I founded Mental Health Defense and Fitness on the principle that just as we train physically for challenges, couples need psychological training to build resilient marriages.

My approach combines clinical expertise with practical, no-nonsense strategies that actually work when life gets hard. I've seen what breaks marriages—and what makes them last.

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