The SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts) Assessment provides a roadmap to a successful and happy marriage or partnership. Couples are assessed individually through an online tool, which they take on their desktop, laptop or cell phone.  The results are unpacked in individual or group sessions with a certified SYMBIS facilitator.  Couples report that completion generally takes between 30-45 minutes. The facilitator receives a notification upon completion by both parties, the report is emailed to the couples, and a session is scheduled to unpack the results. 

The SYMBIS focuses on these areas: Marriage Mindset; Self-Concept; Maturity; Independence: Longevity; Stability/Similarity; Caution Flags; Stress; Cohabitation; Love; Sex; Attitude/Happiness; Communication; Gender Gap; Conflict Management; Spirituality; Intimacy; Remarriage and Blended Families (if relevant). The assessment focuses on identifying the couple’s strengths and potential pain points. 

Absolutely! Many of the couples that I have worked with have been dating, engaged or married for more than three years. Some of the couples have been together for more than a decade.  All have reported learning something new about their partner and/or relationship dynamics following participating in the SYMBIS sessions. 

Most couples/partners do not engage in any formal pre-marital coaching prior to marriage. They often repeat the patterns that they witnessed in their parent’s relationship or in previous toxic romantic relationships. They often talk about the issues repeatedly, but never reach a resolution.  SYMBIS sessions with a skilled practitioner can help to identify those problem areas and facilitate work on creating practical solutions that can reduce conflict and result in relationship happiness. 

The fee to take the assessment is $35, which is paid directly to SYMBIS.  The cost for individual and group sessions with a certified facilitator can range, depending on the facilitator’s educational background, years of experience working with couples, and years of other relevant work experience.

No. The creators of the SYMBIS Assessment designed it to be reviewed with a certified SYMBIS facilitator. 

The cost of the group session is spread across multiple couples, thus reducing the price that each couple pays. It can be a cost-effective way to take the SYMBIS. 

While some couples find a group setting helpful, many couples are uncomfortable sharing their intimate relationship history and family of origin issues with strangers. Another disadvantage of the group SYMBIS sessions is the lack of individual focus for each couple. Each section of the SYMBIS report includes prompts/questions that enable the couple to engage in discussions on the topic that lead to the creation of solutions. A group session would probably not allow for this kind of meaningful exchange. 

I have achieved expert status in the field. I have more than thirty years’ experience in the mental health field and have written the American Psychological Association’s Guidelines for working with LGBTQ+ couples and families. Additionally, I have made more than 300 presentations at academic conferences on four continents and spent more than twenty years has been training several generations of master and doctoral level clinicians.  

We offer a discount on three or more SYMBIS session packages purchased on the website. Use the code SYMBIS100 to save $100 on packages. Additionally, we offer Klarna, which allows clients to make four bi-weekly, no-interest payments on any service of $100 or more. 

Click the link to check out a video that we created about the SYMBIS Assessment: Soul 2 Soul SYMBIS