FOCCUSPremarital Counseling Facilitator TrainingFOCCUS Facilitator Training

The fourth edition of FOCCUS was substantially updated to address changes in contemporary marriage and family structures, as well as relationship challenges arising from technological developments. Beyond standard topics, it addresses situations such as cohabitation, remarriage, religious differences, and blended families. The Chinese translation strives to preserve professional counseling concepts while remaining accurate, clear, and elegant.

The Chinese manual and online questionnaires in both Traditional and Simplified Chinese became widely available in July 2016, making FOCCUS more accessible and a valuable option for premarital counseling in Chinese-speaking communities.

In addition to pastors, spiritually mature lay believers with a strong Christian witness and basic counseling training may participate upon a pastor’s recommendation. They can then work alongside pastors in premarital counseling ministry.

We would be delighted to help. FOCCUS is an effective tool for churches beginning premarital ministry, and we welcome opportunities to equip marriage and family ministry teams together. Training sessions have been arranged periodically in North America, Taiwan, and China. Chinese-speaking churches interested in serving as hosting churches are welcome to contact us.

For more information, contact: Happylearner@les.edu

FOCCUS introduced its fourth-edition manual and questionnaire in 2014, followed by the Chinese edition in 2016. With up to 85% of the content revised, FOCCUS headquarters in the United States requires all facilitators to purchase the fourth-edition manual to continue using the premarital assessment questionnaire.

As of August 15, 2022, LOGOS Training Institute no longer purchases FOCCUS premarital questionnaire credits on behalf of others.

The questionnaire covers personality, family of origin, communication and conflict resolution, intimacy and sexuality, friends and interests, finances, faith, and parenting. The fourth Chinese edition also offers the following features:

1. It places greater emphasis on faith, with 16 questions encouraging broader and deeper discussion among engaged couples.
2. It includes special question sets on religious differences, cohabitation, divorce and remarriage, and remarriage involving children.
3. Up to 85% of the questions were revised for the fourth edition, and the Chinese translation was carefully prepared for accuracy, clarity, and elegance.
4. Training and questionnaire fees offered through the nonprofit organization are relatively affordable, and the questionnaire can be completed online in Chinese.
5. In addition to counselors and pastors, mature believers with basic counseling training may become facilitators upon pastoral recommendation.

No. The assessment report objectively reflects the couple’s own experiences and perceptions, rather than the subjective judgments of a pastor or facilitator. It identifies strengths and existing or potential concerns. A facilitator may recommend postponing the wedding or seeking further counseling, but the couple remains responsible for the final decision and its consequences.

Pastors or facilitators may use the report to guide four to six counseling sessions, spaced one to two weeks apart. If the report reveals significant relationship challenges, they can work with the couple to determine the focus of subsequent sessions and increase the number or length of meetings as needed to build a healthy foundation for marriage.

The report’s percentage-of-agreement charts are reference points, not absolute judgments or a single test that determines a couple’s future. They provide facilitators and engaged couples with a comprehensive picture of their relationship, helping them identify strengths and existing or potential concerns.

Pastors can tailor counseling to each couple by affirming relational strengths while helping them address weaknesses, potential problems, and overlooked issues through honest communication and mutual understanding. For pastors who value prevention over intervention, FOCCUS can help make limited counseling time more effective.