When it comes to relationship guidance and counselling, The Hart Centre is one of the serviced providers on my list of recommendations to all couples – no matter what age – because they provide great flexibility when it comes to pre-marriage counseling.

The pre-marriage programme consists of 2 x 50 minute sessions. Each session is $150 for day-time sessions, or $170 for after-hours or weekend sessions.

One of the benefits of going through the Hart Centre is that counsellors are all qualified registered psychologists.

Sometimes the pre-marriage programme bring up some other issues that the couple would like to work on. Because you will have already been in touch with the counsellors there, they allow you to book further sessions at the same rate, enabling further flexibility. They also provide general relationship counseling.

Another bonus to my couples is that if you have private health insurance with Psychology as part of your extras package, then you’ll be entitled to a health fund rebate.

I am currently in liaison with The Hart Centre about information on their website. Whilst it has resources and links to professionals as Child Psychologists and Family Lawyers, there is not yet a section for Celebrants. I think that this is so important as there are around 3,500 celebrants – not all of whom care about whether or not a marriage lasts the tests of time and trials.

This, my friends, is what separates the wheat from the chaff when it comes to selecting a celebrant. Not using anyone who will “willy nilly” marry you and brush over the legal requirements of talking about relationship guidance. Rather, a well-informed and genuinely caring celebrant who can help steer you in the right direction with fact based recommendations or feedback that they have received from their couples who have personally undertaken counselling prior to getting married.

I love to receive feedback from couples about how they went with their councelling. It is also a pleasure to know that they are making efforts outside of just organising their cake, photography and dresses. Whilst important, these are all materialistic and therefore I would recommend counselling to all couples prior to getting married as a priority.

Whether or not you are married, if you feel that you could do with a few tips and a bit of advice to iron out some creases or bring you closer together, contact The Hart Centre on 1300 830 552.