054: The “Engagement Coaching” Movement with Jonna Phillips, MA, LMFT

On this episode, we’re talking with the amazing Jonna Phillips.  Jonna is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a passion for premarital couples work, which she calls “Engagement Coaching.”



Jonna started out working with military couples almost 15 years ago, then shifted into psychiatric care for individuals, couples, families, and military members.  Her passion to help couples of all backgrounds build positive foundations for their marriage.



I have discovered in my work with couples the more you are willing to have a deeper understanding of yourself and your partner prior to marriage the healthier your relationship will be."



Jonna’s practice is located in Portage, Michigan.  If you’re in the area and engaged, check out her engagement coaching services!



In this episode, we talk about:



Why Jonna prefers the term “engagement coaching” to premarital counseling or therapyWhy premarital coaching should be something every couple doesBringing personality assessments and other tools into a relationshipHow seeking help in your relationship is like giving your car an oil changeUsing “I” statements to communicate with your partner instead of “You” statements—Owning vs blamingWhy we (Bud and Sara) refused premarital counseling



#ConfidentCouples Challenge:



Listen in on Jonna’s new podcast!  The Engagement Coach Podcast







Mentioned in this episode:



Jonna’s practice: Brave Counseling & CoachingThe Enneagram (Jonna uses this assessment, and this is our podcast episode about it)Jonna’s article about why she uses the EnneagramPrepare & Enrich Couples AssessmentThe Engagement Coach Podcast



Let's connect!  Follow us at @budandsara on Instagram and send us a message with any questions about this episode.

Om Podcasten

Marriage doesn't have to be hard—if you make it intentional. We're Bud and Sara Dunn, a couple of 30-somethings who have spent 16 years together crafting a relationship that's uplifting, positive, and always growing. Every week on our marriage and relationship podcast, we share our real-world advice that you can use to be more confident as a couple.