Newswise — With Spring arriving, so does wedding season. Wedding planning can be one of the most challenging and stressful things a couple experiences early in their relationship. Before you finalize the napkin color and walk down the aisle, experts recommend taking the time to put your relationship in order so not only will you survive the first step toward wedded bliss – the planning of your wedding – but the lifelong journey as well.

Julie Saflarski, PsyD, a Clinical Postdoctoral Fellow at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, is available to comment on strategies to manage wedding stress.

“When there appears to be larger areas of conflict,” says Dr. Saflarski, “I recommend that engaged couples attend pre-marital counseling to strengthen their relationship as it approaches the next stage.”

Dr. Saflarski received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from North Central College in Naperville, IL. She also studied Neuropsychology and Psycholinguistics at the University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland. Dr. Saflarski continued her education at Adler University where she received both her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and Doctor of Psychology degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy.

To speak to Dr. Saflarski about the managing wedding stress, or to learn more about The Family Institute, please contact Cyndi Schu, Director of Public Relations, at cschu@family-institute or 312-609-5300, ext. 483.

ABOUT THE FAMILY INSTITUTE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY –The Family Institute at Northwestern University (www.family-institute.org) is committed to strengthening and healing families and individuals from all walks of life through clinical service, education and research. An affiliate of Northwestern University, The Family Institute is a unique, innovative mental health system, governed by its own independent Board of Directors and responsible for its own funding. The Institute offers a wide range of high quality mental health counseling through our staff practice and our sliding-fee scale Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, where we are committed to serving at-risk, under-resourced communities. The Family Institute also operates two nationally-renowned graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology in affiliation with Northwestern University, and conducts cutting-edge research projects that lead to a better understanding and treatment of mental health issues.