Therapist Helps Men Prepare for Marital Success

When does real life begin?

Some might say it’s when you leave home for the first time, away from the protective shade of your parents. Others will opine that it’s when you get your first job and start having real deadlines and responsibilities.

Many will agree, however, that getting married and starting a family is the true marker for when real life begins.

With all the excitement that newly married life brings, navigating through it can also be challenging for a young couple. Up to that point, the young man and woman were living independently, going and coming as they pleased without needing to run their schedules or decisions by anyone else. Marriage changes all of that and places a responsibility on each spouse to care for each other’s well-being and happiness.

The enormity of this new role can be overwhelming, especially as it involves the complexities of a close and intimate relationship. And because marriage is so intensely private, confiding in someone else and seeking advice can be difficult.

It’s a reality that Moishe Shemtov, an experienced life coach and marriage therapist living in Atlanta, sees all too often.

“When a new husband faces a problem in his marriage, he might find himself out of options of people to talk to about it,” says Shemtov. “Many chosson teachers don’t have the time to deal with these types of questions, so the husband just keeps it to himself. Without the necessary tools and perspectives to handle it, the problem festers and grows worse.”

Shemtov believes the secret to long-term marital harmony lies in how a young man prepares himself before the big day, in the engagement and dating period. “Much like a new driver needs lessons before he can set out on a highway, a bochur looking to date and get married would benefit from learning the fundamentals of a loving relationship. During my sessions, we delve deep into what the role of a man is in the relationship, what kind of obstacles come along, and how to overcome challenges in communication and expression. Marriage is a sacred and beautiful thing; but one needs the right tools to tap into that energy.”

After becoming licensed as a therapist and earning his master’s degree in psychology, Shemtov worked at Skyland Trail, a prominent recovery center in Atlanta. He has worked with clients in many different fields, from guiding shluchim to success in fundraising to coaching aspiring businessmen. In recent years, his work has mostly shifted to helping struggling husbands in their marriages in response to the increasing need he sees in our communities. His experience in the field has led him to believe strongly in the importance of pre-marriage education to set the tone for a successful marriage.

He bases his coaching method on the recognition that most husbands want to show up in their marriage and be the best version of themselves; sometimes they just don’t know how to or they’re unsure if they are doing it right. Often, all that a well-meaning husband needs is someone to guide him through a delicate problem to bring him to a better place, and for countless struggling spouses, Moishe Shemtov has been that person. He tailors his methods to fit each person’s needs and unique challenges, freeing them to be the perfect man for their family.

This past summer, Shemtov launched the Moishe Shemtov Podcast available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

AUDIO: How to show up as the man that our family needs with Avi Mogilevsky

To find out more, contact [email protected] or 347-675-5672.