Your relationship as an investment
- Why investing time in relationship skills matters
- The prime time to learn these skills is early in your commitment
- Society focuses more on getting to commitment than keeping it alive
Premarital & Relationship Preparation Workshop
Also known as Marriage Mastery · Embracing Togetherness
A personalized premarital counseling and relationship preparation workshop for engaged and committed couples. Over a focused session, you'll explore communication, conflict, expectations, and the patterns each of you brings from your family of origin — the skills many of us were never taught growing up or at school.
It takes an average couple six years to seek support. Starting earlier means building habits together while things are still forming. This workshop is educational and preparatory; it isn't therapy and no particular outcome is promised.
Scheduling and pricing: please contact us to confirm current dates, format, and fees.
Who it's for
Well suited for couples who…
Whether at the beginning of your journey or well along the path, this workshop is designed to support your growth and help you navigate both the challenges and joys of your relationship.
Engaged couples and couples planning a wedding
Align on values, expectations, money, family, and communication styles before marriage.
Committed couples wanting a stronger foundation
Together a while and ready to deepen connection, address ongoing friction, and build shared skills.
Couples wanting clearer communication
Whether you're hitting the same wall or simply want to be more intentional about how you speak and listen.
Couples building trust and empathy
For partners aiming to strengthen the emotional bond and understand one another more fully.
Couples seeking conflict-resolution tools
Practical strategies for turning disagreements into opportunities for understanding.
All couples welcome
Open to any couple regardless of religion, race, culture, or sexual orientation.
What you'll explore
Four threads run through the session.
A personalized curriculum
- Discuss 13 key areas of your relationship
- Learn core communication skills
- Practice conflict-resolution techniques
- Celebrate and navigate your differences
Families of origin
- How childhood experiences shape adult relationships
- Carry forward the positive characteristics from your families of origin
- Leave behind patterns that no longer serve you
A toolkit to take home
- Balance intimacy as a couple with separateness as individuals
- View yourselves as a team, each contributing distinct strengths
- Understand that love ebbs and flows with how you treat each other
- Know your desires and speak up for them clearly
Private couple
One couple, fully customized
The usual format: a private session shaped by your pre-assessment questionnaire, so the time goes where your relationship actually needs it.
Group possibility
Small-group workshop
A small-group version for several couples is under consideration. Please contact us to confirm whether a group is currently being scheduled.
Format
Roughly three focused hours
Pre-assessment questionnaire, a three-hour facilitated session, a take-home toolkit, and follow-up resources. Contact us to confirm current length and availability.
Facilitator
Led by an experienced couples therapist.
The workshop is facilitated by Zumrad Masar (Ahmedjanova), LCSW-S, LCAS, CCS, founder of Art of Wellness Counseling. Her couples work is informed by postgraduate training in Transactional Analysis and in the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy under Ellyn Bader, Ph.D., at The Couples Institute.
Couples of any religion, race, culture, or sexual orientation are welcome.
Read the full biography →Kind words from participants
"Zumrad surprised me with the course she created for couples where me and my partner participated, and it was emotional, educational, and inspirational. I love self-improvement courses because it shows blind spots in our professional, family, and social life. She is definitely doing some magic there — shifting people and giving a picture which subconsciously we know, but consciously we cannot deal with and structure so it can be effective for our life."
"I had the opportunity to attend Zumrad's relationship workshop, and I am so glad I did. Zumrad breaks down many common pitfalls people face in relationships and provided tools for working through them. She also explained different stages of relationships and how to navigate those transitions effectively. Would highly recommend any couple take this workshop."
Questions
Frequently asked
- Is this therapy?
- No. This is an educational relationship workshop, not couples therapy and not a clinical assessment. If therapy would be a better fit, we can talk that through on a consult call.
- Do we have to be engaged?
- No. The workshop is designed for engaged couples and for committed couples who want to strengthen their foundation.
- How long is it, and what is the format?
- It is typically delivered as a three-hour personalized session for one couple, preceded by a short pre-assessment questionnaire so the material can be tailored to you. A small-group format is being considered — contact us to confirm what is currently offered.
- What does it cost, and when is the next one?
- Current scheduling and pricing change, so we don't publish dates here. Please contact us to confirm current dates, format, and fees.
- Is any of this shared with anyone?
- What you discuss stays between you and the facilitator. Please don't send sensitive personal or health details by ordinary email — call the office instead.
- What if we want ongoing support afterwards?
- Resources and follow-up support are offered after the workshop, and couples therapy is available at the practice if you'd like to continue.
Interested?