Common questions

Beautiful? Yes. Easy? No. Most of us walked down the aisle expecting something different from what we found, and that gap is where many couples begin to lose hope.

Scripture gives a larger answer than “try harder.” God designed marriage. Jesus, pointing back to Genesis, said that “the two shall become one flesh,” and then added, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:5-6). Your marriage is not an accident, and it is not only about your happiness. It is meant to picture Christ’s faithful love for His church (Ephesians 5:31-32).

So when you are struggling, the question is not only whether to hold on to your expectations or let them go. It is what God is doing in your marriage — and what He may want to change in each of you. At 2remain1 Ministries, we believe there is a reason the two of you are together, and that your marriage has a much larger purpose — even in the middle of life’s struggles.

There are countless approaches to addressing a struggling marriage, and what is considered new or effective in relationship counseling changes from decade to decade. Human theories rise and fall, but God’s Word does not: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8). We believe Scripture remains the most helpful and enduring resource for understanding and strengthening marriage, and everything we do is built upon its truth.

We are a husband-and-wife counseling team, and we have served as full-time biblical counselors for more than ten years. We work with couples together, while also meeting individually with husbands and wives when appropriate.

Being away from church for a while does not disqualify you, and you do not need to have everything figured out before you call. Church attendance is not a requirement for working with us.

What matters most to us is not where you are spiritually right now, but whether you are open to hearing and applying what God says in His Word. We are biblical counselors, and we believe God has given us His Word as the sure foundation for understanding marriage and addressing the struggles couples face within it. After all, He is the One who designed marriage.

As we work together, we would encourage you to become part of a Gospel-centered church community. Marriage was never intended to be lived out in isolation, and we believe couples benefit greatly from the encouragement, accountability, and fellowship of other believers.

If you are open to exploring what God has to say in Scripture about building a marriage that honors Him, we would be glad to meet you.

You are welcome to talk with us. You do not need to believe before you begin, and you do not need to agree with each other about faith. If one of you is a believer and the other is not, or if neither of you is sure, you are still welcome.

Everything we do ties back to the Gospel, so you will hear Scripture throughout our time together, and some of what we say may be uncomfortable or hard to accept. If you come with an open mind, we will be respectful and honest with you — and we will never ask either of you to say you believe something you do not.

Our counseling is biblical counseling — Christian pastoral care grounded in Scripture, in which we help couples understand and apply what God says about marriage. Our services are not represented as licensed mental health counseling or psychotherapy. We are not acting as state-licensed behavioral health professionals in providing these services.

If you or someone in your home is in crisis or in danger, please call 988 or 911 right away. Your safety comes first, and we can talk afterward.

A 3-Day Intensive offers couples an opportunity to devote extended, uninterrupted time to addressing the struggles in their marriage through focused, Gospel-centered biblical counseling. Rather than spreading conversations across weeks or months, we set aside three days to slow down, get beneath the surface of recurring conflicts, examine the heart issues that contribute to them, and begin pursuing meaningful change rooted in God’s Word.

For couples who feel stuck, discouraged, or have lost hope, this concentrated time can be especially valuable. It allows us to stay with difficult conversations rather than having to stop just as important issues begin to surface. It also provides space to listen, understand one another, take personal responsibility, extend forgiveness, and consider how Christ can transform the way you love and serve one another.

Stepping away from the demands of everyday life gives your marriage focused attention and creates an opportunity to make meaningful progress toward a healthier, more Christ-centered marriage.

An Intensive is priced at $225 per 90-minute counseling session. A 3-Day Intensive typically includes multiple sessions over the three days, with the total cost ranging from $3,000 to $4,000.

We recognize that this represents a significant financial commitment. We also believe that setting aside focused time and attention to address the struggles in your marriage can be a worthwhile investment. Our desire is to help you build a healthier marriage on the foundation of God’s Word.

During your free Introduction call, tell us what you are hoping to accomplish, and we will walk you through what an Intensive might look like for your situation.

Yes, though a 3-Day Intensive is conducted in person, so couples who live farther away will need to travel. Private Counseling sessions can be held in person or by Zoom. To arrange the details of an Intensive, reach out to us from the Get Started page.

An Intensive is a strong beginning, not a finish line. A marriage headed in a healthier direction still needs tending in the months and years that follow.

After our three days together, your follow-up includes assignments to complete, so that you can keep building healthy momentum. You are also invited to bring Advocates (trusted people who will support your marriage) with you to the Intensive, which provides additional encouragement after it is over. And if you would like continued counseling support, we are available for additional individual sessions through Private Counseling.

Private Counseling is $225 per 90-minute session. Most couples begin by meeting with us every two or three weeks, then gradually move to monthly sessions after the first few. See Can we get help with the cost? for more.

We meet at our offices in Deer Valley on Mondays and Tuesdays, in Kierland on Fridays, and in Tempe on Saturdays. Every Private Counseling session can also be held by Zoom, whichever is easier for you.

You do not have to decide before you call. The Introduction call is free, and it is the place to tell us your story and what you are looking for.

A 3-Day Intensive is concentrated time over three days, conducted in person. Private Counseling is ongoing, with sessions in person or by Zoom, usually every two or three weeks at first. After hearing your story, we can talk with you about which one fits your marriage best.

The first step is a free 15- to 20-minute Introduction call. Call us, text us, or send a message from the Get Started page with your names and cell phone numbers, and we will get you set up on our Online Scheduler, where you can choose the Introduction call date and time that works best for you.

The free Introduction call is an opportunity for us to get acquainted, hear a little about what is happening in your marriage, and help you understand how we approach biblical marriage counseling. We will explain what working together typically looks like, answer your questions, and discuss possible next steps if you decide to move forward.

We encourage both husband and wife to participate so that you can hear the same information, ask questions, and consider together whether our ministry would be a good fit for your marriage.

That is not uncommon. You may both recognize that your marriage needs help but have different ideas about what would be most beneficial. If so, we encourage you to pray together about the decision, if possible. Then, each of you can independently write down three options you would be willing to consider and identify the potential benefits and concerns of each.

Bring your lists to the free Introduction call. We would be glad to hear your perspectives, answer questions, and help you think through which approach might best serve your marriage.

Yes. We want financial circumstances to be as small a barrier as possible for couples seeking biblical counseling.

2remain1 Ministries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 2remain1 Ministries is committed to making biblical counseling and 3-Day Intensives accessible to couples who need financial assistance. All tax-deductible donations, less payment-processing fees, are devoted exclusively to scholarships for these services.

If cost is a concern, please do not hesitate to ask us about available scholarship assistance. You can reach us through the Get Started page. If you would like to help make counseling more accessible to other couples, you can contribute through our Give page.

Call or text 323-736-2461, or email kimball@2remain1.org or elizabeth@2remain1.org. You can also send a message from the Get Started page. If you are in crisis, call 988 or 911 instead of waiting for us to reply.