Today many people are familiar with the SYMBIS assessment which stands for "Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts." Developed by Drs. Les & Leslie Parrot, SYMBIS has quickly become a favorite assessment tool amongst counselors and clergy as well as very popular with young couples embarking on their new life together. Each page of the SYMBIS report has the couple looking forward to what they will learn about each other and their relationship next.
The following are a few statistics supplied by SYMBIS:
Here's what we know for sure: 87% of young adults plan on being married eventually and 82% expect to be married for life. Did you catch that? Almost all young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 not only aspire to eventually be married, they plan on it.
And, perhaps more striking – in the face of a staggering divorce rate that most young adults have witnessed up close and personal– most still believe that when they marry, it will be for life.
Perhaps that's why the pre-marriage population is so motivated. More couples want pre-marriage education than ever – and with good reason. It is "associated with higher levels of marital satisfaction, lower levels of destructive conflicts and higher levels of commitment."
Here are a few more facts:
- 76% of married couples say they wish they had pre-marriage education.
- 86% of Americans over 18 say all couples considering marriage should get pre-marriage education.
- Couples who do not receive pre-marriage education are more likely to see their problems as atypical and unsolvable.
- 41% of divorced couples say lack of pre-marriage preparation contributed to their divorce.
So does pre-marriage counseling work?
Absolutely. Research conclusively shows that couples who succeed, gain the knowledge they need before they settle into destructive patterns that often lead to divorce. In fact, couples are 31% less likely to get divorced if they get some sort of pre-marriage training before they marry.
Not only that, couples who participate in pre-marriage programs experience a 30% increase in marital success and fulfillment over those who do not participate.
SYMBIS gives you a roadmap and insight into your personality type as well as that of your partner which is invaluable in understanding and resolving conflict. As a Certified SYMBIS Facilitator I use this assessment in premarital counseling and classes, and as a counselor I encourage all young couples to invest in their relationship and to take this assessment even if they're already married.
If you are interested in taking the SYMBIS assessment, contact us online, or call the office at 469-225-9040.
