Rebuild your relationship with a modern alternative to trad. Marriage Counseling

Rebuild Your Relationship
with a
Modern Alternative to
Traditional Marriage Counseling
My Unique

Unique Process for Couples to Rebuild your Marriage
uses sophisticated diagnostic tools for accuracy
addresses core issues, not just surface ones
provides steps to rebuild your relationship
focuses on reconciliation not treatment
is goal-oriented, not non-directive

PHASE 1:  Testing the Waters

Phase 1 Testing the Water
  1. Call me , Dr. Ken Newberger (239-850-0037) for a FREE phone consultation to briefly discuss your relationship issues.  Before you call,  please read through this page to become familiar with my process and pricing.
  2. Steps to Prepare for Your "Testing the Waters" Session.  During this session, I will have the opportunity to learn about you and the relationship, you will be able to assess your comfort level with me, and we will both confirm that you are good candidates for my process.
    (a)  Click here to provide your contact info.  We will:  (1) email you a copy of the ground rules that will be signed at the beginning of the meeting,  (2) register you for a preliminary assessment tool that examines your relationship (see below).
    (b)  Take the online p-e-online marriage counseling tool Prepare/Enrich Assessment Tool.  The cost is $35 per couple to be paid directly to Life Innovations Inc.  It will take you each about 1/2 hour to complete.  I will receive a combined 25-page report and will review it prior to our meeting (no charge).
    (c)  Complete the Goals survey (which I will also review at no charge prior to our meeting).
    (d)  Meeting Length & Cost:  The session is two hours long and costs $360.

PHASE 2:  Uncovering Core Issues

Phase 2 Couple
  1.  Conflict Analysis Tool for Couples  The Conflict Analysis Tool 
    I developed and successfully used the CAT with over 1,000 clients.  Here's what to expect:
    (a)  Like an x-ray, this indispensable, one-of-a-kind diagnostic instrument peers deeply into your relationship from multiple angles.  It takes 1.5 to 3.5 hours depending on how much you write.  You do not have to finish it in one sitting.  Save and return to it later.

    (b)  After you both submit your answers, I will read, analyze, and create notes on each of your results . By engaging in "Data Triangulation" (using more than one method to collect data on the same topic), I quickly ascertain the underlying causes of your issues.  You attend fewer, less efficient information gathering marriage counseling sessions, and I gain accuracy.

    There is a one-time charge of $390 per person for approx. 6 hours of work for both of you.  It includes my behind-the-scenes analysis of your relationship that occurs in Phase 2.  See paragraphs 3b, 4a, and 5 for details.  This charge does not include face-to-face meetings.  Note:  I will spend upu to 10 hours for free on behalf of both of you during my ongoing, behind-the-scenes work in Phase 3.
  2. Individual Meetings.  (a) Before each of your individual meetings, I will review all the materials gathered thus far for a second time to pick out key areas to discuss during our time together.  (b) I will then schedule a private session with each of you.  (I will let you know which of you I want to see first).  The purpose of this meeting is for me to further immerse myself into your perspective without challenge from your partner.  (c) The length of the meeting is 2 hours.  For the rate, see paragraph 8.
  3. Getting Ready.  Before your next joint meeting, I will spend more hours pouring over all the data I gathered from multiple sources: (1) results from the (a) Prepare/Enrich Assessment and (b) Goals Surveys, (2) notes from your initial Testing the Waters session, (3) each of your answers to the Conflict Analysis Tool, as well as (4) notes from each of your individual sessions with me.  About 80-90 pages in all.  I will take these various data streams and painstakingly develop an integrated, goal-oriented agenda for you.  Unfortunately for me, there are no shortcuts to this time-consuming process of immersing myself into your lives.  On the other hand, it is:
    • A Time-Saving Process for You.  The work to repair and rebuild your relationship begins in your second session as a couple.  You can bypass weeks of data-gathering sessions that would not yield as much accurate data about the two of you as gathered by this process.  Traditional approaches to marriage counseling do not zero in on your core issues as quickly and with as much depth as mine.

PHASE 3:  Rebuilding Your Relationship

Phase 3 Woman Hugging Man
  1. Joint Sessions.  Throughout the proceedings, you will each be invited to tell your story.  Differences in perspectives will be explored.  To the greatest extent possible, barriers to communication will be removed and replaced by open, honest, and heartfelt conversations.  Various factors contributing to your conflict, including the not-so-obvious ones, will be identified. Solutions that address core issues and enhance reconciliation will be pursued.  From start to finish, the overarching goal to strengthen your marriage and provide a peaceful home for your children is kept front and center.
  1. Individual Sessions.  Although most, if not all, of our sessions in Phase 3 will be joint, individual sessions can be scheduled.  Individual sessions are an option, for example, when one spouse wants additional coaching or wants to continue to work on the relationship even if his or her partner drops out of the process.
  1. Practical Information.
    • Session Length:  Joint sessions generally run for 2 hours.  Sessions may get shorter over time.
    • How Often Do We Meet?  Sessions are usually every two weeks.  This allows you enough time to work on your relationship-building exercises between sessions.  This schedule, however, is flexible according to your needs. nbsp;
    • Session Rate:  $180 per hour (with ¼ hr. billing).  This is for in-office sessions, online meetings, and extended phone calls (over 10 min.).  This hourly rate includes, at no additional cost, time spent on your behalf in the following ways:
    • ✓  I typically spend an hour or more, not just 10 minutes, to prepare for your upcoming session.  In effect, you may receive three hours worth of work for your two-hour meeting with me.
      ✓  My session hour means a full 60 minutes, not a deflated 45-50 minute "therapy hour."
      ✓  I assign relationship-building activities for you to work on between sessions.
      ✓  After a session I may type and email you a summary of what we discussed, with any oather helpful documents, to help you stay focused until we meet again.
    • Hours:  I work both day and evening hours.
    • Insurance:  My work as a conflict resolution specialist is not covered by health insurance.
Visual summary of alternative to traditional marriage counseling process