Divorce is a reality for far too many couples in this country. And though learning to diagram a sentence or solving quadratic equations is important, even more important is learning – among other things - how to be married.
(It always amazes me that we expect people to just ‘pick up’ all the really important life skills.)

By the time it’s bad enough to start contemplating a marriage counselor, it’s often too late to retrieve the marriage. But if you want to learn how to rock your marriage, then you aren’t interested in counseling anyway. Perhaps you just want to ‘look under the hood and poke around a little bit’. Head some minor-but-could-become-major issues off at the pass.
So what’s a non-therapist needing couple to do?
Get a marriage coach!
And today, my friends, is your lucky day! Corey, of the fantastic SimpleMarriage, is offering marriage coaching to two lucky lucky couples. Free.
Since the world of marriage coaching is new to most people, I am offering 3 free marriage coaching sessions to 2 couples. To be qualified for this offer, you must be willing to blog about the experience, whether on your own blog or here at Simple Marriages (unedited by me of course).
You can enter this phenomenal give-a-way by simply leaving a comment here, or by emailing him at corey at simplemarriage dot net.

Dr. Corey Allen, by the way, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a LPC and a Professional Life and Relationship Coach. Basically, he is well-trained, compassionate, and has a lot of letters after his name. You can check out all of his qualifications here.
Some of Corey’s must read articles include:
- 6 Ways For Men To Simplify Their Marriage
- 8 Principles for a Zen Marriage
- Man Up/Woman Up: How To Have Curl Your Toes Sex
- How to Have an Affair… With Your Spouse.
- The 21-Day Complaint Free Marriage Experiment
So by now, I know you are totally ready to rock your marriage. Whether you enter the marriage coaching give-a-way, or simply check out his blog, Corey is ready to engage your marital passion!





13 comments
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September 9, 2008 at 4:29 am
Amber
Thankfully, I am not in need of these services, but highly encourage people to do this.
Both my husband and myself are very good communicators and we put each other first and always speak kindly to one another. That takes away 90% of the problems right there.
Great post..
hayden tompkins says:
Speaking kindly is so important.
September 9, 2008 at 6:52 am
SanityFound
The guy up top ironically looks like my ex, it actually looks like an exact carbon copy lol. Brilliant post, I am happily single at the mo’ but will book mark this for “if” and “when”
hayden tompkins says:
I thought he was kind of cute, so good for you!
September 9, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Lee McKusick
Not married (yet), but definitely a cool prize. Relationships, even fantastically great ones, always have room for improvement.
“And has a lot of letters after his name.” – Great line.
hayden tompkins says:
September 9, 2008 at 3:27 pm
daffy
I don’t need need marriage coaching… after 17 years of it I think I just about have the hang of it. Of course it’s been 20 years really because for 3 years we had a practice run.
)
I would always advocate for couples to get help if they needed it though… it’s too easy too walk away for some. Some things CAN be fixed with a little bit of work and understanding and time. Thought provoking as ever Hayden!
hayden tompkins says:
Wooh, 17 years, you go with your bad selves!
September 9, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Kip de Moll
Newly out on “the street”, it’s amazing to discover I had 15 counsellors (individual & couples) over 20 years, and still couldn’t work out the problems in our marriage. It takes both being able to be responsible for their own issues, joining together as equal individuals, not co-dependent, over-sensitive people who want the other to make it all OK.
Sometimes, no amount of “communication, putting the other first and speaking kindly” can take away the fact that one might still be a square body in a round house.
hayden tompkins says:
That’s very true. I wonder…would it have made a difference to go before you got married? Would it have been enlightening as to the dynamic of your marital relationship?
September 9, 2008 at 5:41 pm
vanessaleighsblog
Hey Hayden: what a great offer!!! I have been on both sides, the end of a relationship (we aren’t allowed marriage here in our state, so committed relationship will have to do for now…..), and a rekindling/second try. We were together for ten years, I left the relationship after communication had diminished to a bare minimum, but had been failing for years, and then we are now back together over a year, and communicating more than we have throughout our entire relationship. We talk, we laugh, we listen, and we are meant for each other. COMMUNICATION, absolutely, is the key……
hayden tompkins says:
Wow, 11 years. And to have recovered your relationship? That’s incredible.
September 9, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Kip de Moll
I was so determined to have this 2nd marriage work, I would not let myself question the request that my daughter not attend the wedding, or the many other signs that pointed towards problems. I just wanted to feel good and married. Not only did I not listen to my own voice, I ignored the advice of all those counsellors. It has taken the last guy 6 years to pry me loose.
hayden tompkins says:
I wish I could say that was uncommon. I know someone who is getting married because he feels, at 28, that he should settle down and have a family. (!) No one went to the bachelor party, nor have they rsvp’d for the reception.
It is pretty uncommon for people to be able to more deeply understand their nature in the wake of a failed marriage, as you have, instead of simply laying the blame at the feet of their former spouse.
September 9, 2008 at 8:20 pm
mssc54
I hate it when…
My wife leaves hair in the shower drain.
Doesn’t push the tooth paste from the bottom to the top.
Leaves the top off the tooth paste.
Uses to much baby powder and it gets all over the floor.
Doesn’t clean her long hair up off the carpet for a week.
While im asleep she pulls the sheet up over my head after she rips a big one.
She keeps spooning and grabbing at me.
No honey, I’m not ready! Once a night is enough.
hayden tompkins says:
Oh, boy, you guys sound feisty! She must adore your sense of humor, LOL.
September 9, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Amber
Mssc54 – keep dreaming!
September 10, 2008 at 2:08 am
mssc54
September 10, 2008 at 12:28 pm
markharrell
Hey… 100% honesty and open communication is a must. Speak the truth in love… always, and never… never… never go to bed with an unresolved problem… NEVER!
I cover this specifically in my book: Secrets of the Spiritual Matrix at http://www.xulonpress.com. I use Neo and Trinity as my communication tool.
Mark
hayden tompkins says:
My only beef with Neo and Trinity is that they never seemed very happy. (Though I guess being in a war would suck the joy out of any relationship!)
September 10, 2008 at 3:17 pm
deepsm25
Good Thought….but I am happy to be single
September 10, 2008 at 4:05 pm
markharrell
Hayden,
Oh.. I tend to disagree; they were very happy together — alothough their surroundings were bleak. They died in love, having helped to achieve the end of the war. Wow!!!