Premarital / Marital Education Classes

We are Willie and Cynthia Torrence: who are living married life one day at a time, just like any other couple! After 17+ years of marriage and a blended family of 9 children and 19 grandchildren, three grand fur-babies and five kitten, we know a thing (or twenty!) about the ups and downs of creating a life together.

We have a PASSION for teaching PREPARE and ENRICH classes to help you and your spouse create a harvest of love and respect for a lifetime of love and happiness. Educational Classes are the Keys to SUCCESS!

Meet Cynthia

Cynthia is a fun-loving and has a passion to educate couples on their journey through marriage! She believes consistent prayer, communication, and grace can help any relationship thrive. She extends her ministry by serving women in the prison system, homeless population, as well as cooking for friends, family, and the community.

Education and Training

• Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (License in Progress)
• Certified Prepared and Enrich Facilitator
• Certified Mental Health Paraprofessional
• Certified Wedding Officiant
• Married to Willie Since 2004!

Meet Willie

Willie is no stranger to healthy confrontation and communication. Alongside his work as a minister, he has officiated baseball, basketball, volleyball, and softball at all scholastic levels for over 30 years. He believes teamwork is essential to any lasting partnership and uses his spiritual gifts and passion for sports to guide his work with couples.

Education and Training

• B.S. in Leadership and Ministry
• Certified Prepare Enrich Facilitator
• Certified Mental Health Paraprofessional
• Licensed Minister and Licensed Wedding Officiant
• Married to Cynthia since 2004

If you would like further information, please contact Arkansas Relationship Counseling, to schedule an appointment with our Certified PREPARE/ENRICH Facilitators, Willie and/or Cynthia Torrence at (501) 313-1185.

Call 501-222-3463 or click to request a consultation with one of our therapists.

Benefits in Attending Pre-marital, Marital and Newlywed Education Classes?

Pre-Marital Classes prior to marriage is accepting an opportunity to put strongholds in place for long-lasting respect, friendship, and happiness. Premarital counseling gives couples an opportunity to gain insights into growth-areas in their relationship and identify strengths to build on.

By understanding personality differences, couples can better prevent conflict and develop a better skill set to handling disagreements. Learning skills to manage conflict prior to the marriage can set the tone for healthy communication and understanding.

Added benefits include discussing expectations, setting realistic goals, and having a third party to help talk through on-going conflict. Prepare and Enrich Facilitators can pose concerns that haven’t naturally come up in conversation with your partner.

There are many things to learn about your partner after you both become united in marriage. It can be overwhelming, but we break down what to expect from all aspects of your relationship. Rather you’ve been marriage recently (Newlyweds) or long- term (seasoned marriages).

Our Certified Prepare and Enrich Facilitators known a thing or TWENTY about marriages.

We will guide you through the Prepare and Enrich process:

• Strengthen communication skills
• Improve conflict resolution skills
• Significantly improve relationship satisfaction
• Identify areas of stress and resolve conflict
• Establish personal, couple, and family goals
• Communicate boundaries in a healthy way
• Understand personality differences
• Explore skills that lead to relationship longevity

Is Premarital Counseling Just for Unhappy Couples?

Many happy, content couples enter premarital counseling and find it helpful and fulfilling. Discussing one’s relationship and hearing their partner’s view can be constructive. Acknowledging previous challenges and talking through how they were resolved can be healing and promising to a beginning marriage.

Why PREPARE/ENRICH?

PREPARE/ENRICH first provides each couple with an easy-to-use, confidential, online assessment. Assessments can be customized based on the background and needs of the couple, such as previous marriages, step- children, older couples, or faith-based scales.

After both partners complete their portion of the assessment, the therapist receives a copy of the report to be printed for use in counseling.

Topics covered in the assessment and program include a personality profile for each partner; relationship dynamics measured by assertiveness, self-confidence, avoidance, and partner dynamics; and 10 core scales of relationship health:

• Communication
• Sexuality and Affection
• Family and Friends
• Relationship Roles
• Children and Parenting
• Spiritual Beliefs
• Conflict Resolution
• Partner Style and Habits
• Financial Management
• Leisure Activities

How long does the program take?

The online assessment should take each partner about 20 minutes to complete at home. The therapist and couple will determine the length of their individualized program based on their results. On average, couples meet for 6 -10 weeks to cover each topic and to close.