Marriage Support and Healing

“It takes three to make love, not two: you, your spouse, and God. Without God people only succeed in bringing out the worst in one another. Lovers who have nothing else to do but love each other soon find there is nothing else. Without a central loyalty life is unfinished.”

– Venerable Fulton Sheen

  • Alexander House – A faith-based, couple-to-couple mentoring model with a 98% reported success rate in restoring struggling marriages.
  • Worldwide Marriage Encounter: The Marriage Encounter experience helps you listen, share, and connect more deeply. There’s no group discussion. It’s just about the two of you learning to be the best, most loving and thriving couple you can be.
  • Retrouvaille (pronounced “Retro-Vie,” French for “Rediscovery”) is an international community committed to helping couples heal their marriages. We believe every marriage deserves the chance to heal and thrive. Retrouvaille is where we found hope, and we are dedicated to helping couples worldwide find hope. It is a program that can truly be life-changing.
  • Marriage Counseling 

The following counselors / psychotherapists have stated that they are Catholics who follow the teachings and authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. They have stated that they follow Catholic teachings in their lives, and that they encourage their Catholic clients to live these out as well. This listing is not an endorsement of their counseling methods or effectiveness. Please be aware that they are not in any way vetted or endorsed by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This list is not a comprehensive list of all Catholic counselors / psychotherapists in the metro area.

  • Joshua T. Mears, PhD, LP (15 years); The Soul’s Apothecary – Private Practice; jmears@mearsapothecary.com, 952-767-9376; EMDR, ART, TF-CBT, DBT, faith-integrated trauma therapy for children, teens, families, clergy
  • Carmen S. Franzmeier, LMFT (10 years); Martin Center for Integration – Catholic Clinic; carmen@martincenterforintegration.com, 651-300-2150; CBT, DBT, faith-based couples and family therapy
  • Anthony (Todd) Nichols, PhD, LP (20 years); Family Attachment & Counseling Center – Private Clinic; todd@familyattachment.com, 952-234-4632; EMDR, Attachment, SSP, child and adult trauma, attachment-based Catholic integration
  • Christian Wolfe, LPCC, LADC (9 years); Caritas in Veritate Counseling – Private Practice / Seminary Faculty; cwolfe@carivercounseling.com, 651-321-1030; EMDR, IFS, Sensorimotor, Psychodynamic, work with clergy and families
  • Brant Thomsen, LICSW (21 years); Strength and Healing Counseling – Private Practice; brant@strengthandhealing.com, 651-925-6313; EMDR, MBSR, play therapy, autism and trauma, Catholic formation training
  • Nancy Blume, MA, LP (40 years); Private Practice (Retired / Volunteer); nancyblume@comcast.net, 612-819-3931; EMDR, ART, IFS, somatic experiencing, volunteer for Annunciation support only
  • Joe Pribyl, LMFT (18 years); Quo Vadis Therapy Center – Private Practice; jpribyl@qvtherapy.com, 651-398-5847; CBT, ART, EFT, Catholic couples and family therapy
  • Rachel Moran, LMFT (15 years); Choices Psychotherapy – Group Practice; rmoran@choicespsychotherapy.net, 952-544-6806 x302; CBT, ART, relational therapy, Catholic adult populations
  • Jake Voelker, LMFT (13 years); Parkdale Therapy – Private Practice; j@jakevoelker.com, 651-621-0688; EMDR, IFS, Catholic adult and clergy clients, referral collaboration
  • Deacon Joseph Utecht, LPC (34 years); Corporate EAP Consultant / Parish Support; Utecht4Emmaus@gmail.com, 612-791-4998; CISM, grief groups, acute trauma assessment, deacon in Catholic parish
  • Jason E. Miller, LICSW (11 years); Health Partners – Clinic Setting; jembenjamin@gmail.com, 480-209-4008; EMDR, CBT, narrative, Spanish-speaking, neurodivergent clients

Red Bird Ministries is a Catholic, pro-life/pro-family grief support ministry that focuses on bereaved families who have experienced child loss of any age and circumstance, including pregnancy loss through miscarriage and stillbirth, and after birth as an infant, child, ​​adolescent, or adult. While we operate as Catholics our ministry serves anyone who has experienced the loss of a child.​

A Catholic Guide to Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss by Abigail Jorgensen

  • Ánimo is an apostolate for men and women who experience same-sex attractions and those who love them.
  • Eden Invitation creates space to receive the whole person, grow systems of mutual support, and empower for creative discipleship. We are disciples with LGBTQ+ experiences, building community with others who desire a way of life in congruence with Christ and His Church.
  • Magdala Ministries (for women)
  • The Freedom Group (for men)
  • Strive is a powerful 21-Day Porn Detox that helps men understand why they go to porn and equips them with the knowledge, tools, and accountability needed to quit porn.
  • Covenant Eyes: The relationship-first solution for overcoming pornography and reclaiming your life.

Chastity Project: Through speaking engagements, books, podcasts and videos, the Chastity Project helps teens and young people discover why chastity makes them free to love.

Find more information on the NFP page.

The following counselors / psychotherapists have stated that they are Catholics who follow the teachings and authority of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. They have stated that they follow Catholic teachings in their lives, and that they encourage their Catholic clients to live these out as well. This listing is not an endorsement of their counseling methods or effectiveness. Please be aware that they are not in any way vetted or endorsed by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This list is not a comprehensive list of all Catholic counselors / psychotherapists in the metro area.

  • Joshua T. Mears, PhD, LP (15 years); The Soul’s Apothecary – Private Practice; jmears@mearsapothecary.com, 952-767-9376; EMDR, ART, TF-CBT, DBT, faith-integrated trauma therapy for children, teens, families, clergy
  • Carmen S. Franzmeier, LMFT (10 years); Martin Center for Integration – Catholic Clinic; carmen@martincenterforintegration.com, 651-300-2150; CBT, DBT, faith-based couples and family therapy
  • Anthony (Todd) Nichols, PhD, LP (20 years); Family Attachment & Counseling Center – Private Clinic; todd@familyattachment.com, 952-234-4632; EMDR, Attachment, SSP, child and adult trauma, attachment-based Catholic integration
  • Christian Wolfe, LPCC, LADC (9 years); Caritas in Veritate Counseling – Private Practice / Seminary Faculty; cwolfe@carivercounseling.com, 651-321-1030; EMDR, IFS, Sensorimotor, Psychodynamic, work with clergy and families
  • Brant Thomsen, LICSW (21 years); Strength and Healing Counseling – Private Practice; brant@strengthandhealing.com, 651-925-6313; EMDR, MBSR, play therapy, autism and trauma, Catholic formation training
  • Nancy Blume, MA, LP (40 years); Private Practice (Retired / Volunteer); nancyblume@comcast.net, 612-819-3931; EMDR, ART, IFS, somatic experiencing, volunteer for Annunciation support only
  • Joe Pribyl, LMFT (18 years); Quo Vadis Therapy Center – Private Practice; jpribyl@qvtherapy.com, 651-398-5847; CBT, ART, EFT, Catholic couples and family therapy
  • Rachel Moran, LMFT (15 years); Choices Psychotherapy – Group Practice; rmoran@choicespsychotherapy.net, 952-544-6806 x302; CBT, ART, relational therapy, Catholic adult populations
  • Jake Voelker, LMFT (13 years); Parkdale Therapy – Private Practice; j@jakevoelker.com, 651-621-0688; EMDR, IFS, Catholic adult and clergy clients, referral collaboration
  • Deacon Joseph Utecht, LPC (34 years); Corporate EAP Consultant / Parish Support; Utecht4Emmaus@gmail.com, 612-791-4998; CISM, grief groups, acute trauma assessment, deacon in Catholic parish
  • Jason E. Miller, LICSW (11 years); Health Partners – Clinic Setting; jembenjamin@gmail.com, 480-209-4008; EMDR, CBT, narrative, Spanish-speaking, neurodivergent clients

Pornography has become increasingly more available and accepted in today’s society. Both men and women of all ages have become entangled in the lies and pain of pornography use and even addiction, which has devastating effects on the user and his or her spouse and family. Support and healing are available. Below is a select list of resources for those who are struggling with pornography, their spouses, and family members.

  • Catholics in Recovery: A ministry offering hope and healing for those recovering from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments, and for their loved ones. 
    • The Catholic in Recovery, St. Mark, St. Paul
    • Faith and Recovery, St. John the Baptist, New Brighton

Find resources on the Marriage Enrichment page.

  • Surviving Divorce: Hope and Healing for the Catholic Family – Surviving Divorce was created to bring hope and healing to those who have experienced the pain and loneliness of a broken marriage. It is for the newly separated and divorced and those still struggling with issues many years later. It will help them answer their questions, restore hope, and begin authentic healing. 
  • Divorced Catholic – Recovering from Divorce will shorten your recovery time, help you regain hope, and restore peace to your life by helping your more fully tap into the power of your Catholic faith.
  • Life-Giving Wounds – Life-Giving Wounds offers Christ-centered healing through retreats, support groups, community, spiritual formation, resources & more. Join events online or in-person with chapters across the United States and Canada.

What is often referred to as a “marriage annulment” in the Church is actually a declaration by a Church tribunal (a Catholic Church court) that a marriage thought to be valid according to Church law actually fell short of at least one of the essential elements required for a binding union. Read these FAQs para más información.

Archdiocesan Annulment process page

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