Choosing Your Pre-Marriage Path
Our 12 Domains Assessment vs. SYMBIS
Two real, honest paths to a stronger start. Here's exactly how they compare.
The Short Answer
What's the difference between the 12 Domains Assessment and SYMBIS?
Both are pre-marriage assessments, followed by sessions with a mentor. The 12 Domains Assessment is MarriageWorks.TODAY's own framework. It covers twelve areas of marriage and comes in the £299 Pre-Marriage Starter Bundle. SYMBIS is a licensed US assessment created by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott, offered in a programme from £797. Choose by budget, and by whether you want SYMBIS by name.
Last updated October 2026
At a Glance
Side by Side
12 Domains Assessment
- £299 in the Pre-Marriage Starter Bundle
- 12 Domains Assessment plus two 1:1 mentor sessions (£150 each)
- Our own framework, used across every MarriageWorks programme
- Certificate of completion and a resource pack
SYMBIS Assessment
- £797 (3 sessions) or £997 (4 sessions)
- The original SYMBIS questionnaire plus a certified facilitator debrief
- Created by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott, used by over a million couples
- A good fit if you want SYMBIS specifically, by name
The Detail
Point by Point
Everything you need to compare, in one place.
| 12 Domains Assessment | SYMBIS | |
|---|---|---|
| Created by | Jim Patrick and Summer Munupe, founders of MarriageWorks.TODAY | Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott, in the US |
| What it covers | Twelve domains, from communication and conflict to finances, family and shared vision | A 15-page personalised report across seven key areas of married life |
| Built on | Real mentoring experience with hundreds of couples | More than 30 years of marriage research |
| Programme price | £299 (Pre-Marriage Starter Bundle) | £797 for 3 sessions, or £997 for 4 sessions |
| Mentor sessions | Two 1:1 sessions to unpack your results | 3 or 4 sessions with a certified SYMBIS facilitator |
| Delivered | Online, over video | Online, over video |
| Used elsewhere at MarriageWorks | Yes, in the Marriage Checkup, mentoring, Foundations and every programme | Only in the SYMBIS Pre-Marriage Programme |
| Best for | Couples who want strong preparation at a lower price | Couples who want SYMBIS by name |
What the 12 Domains Cover
Twelve Areas, One Clear Picture
The 12 Domains Assessment scores your relationship in each of these areas, so you can see where you're strong and where to start.
- 01Communication & ClarityLearn to say what you mean, hear what your partner needs, and close the gap between intention and impact.
- 02Conflict ResolutionTurn disagreements into doorways for deeper understanding instead of distance.
- 03Trust & TransparencyStrengthen the foundation that holds everything else together, even after it has been shaken.
- 04Emotional IntimacyBuild the kind of closeness where both partners feel safe enough to be fully known.
- 05Spiritual AlignmentGrow together in faith, shared values, and a sense of purpose bigger than yourselves.
- 06Forgiveness & GraceRelease the weight of resentment and make room for healing, restoration, and a fresh start.
- 07Physical IntimacyReconnect physically in a way that honours both partners and deepens your bond over time.
- 08Financial UnityAlign on money so it strengthens your partnership instead of creating division.
- 09Family DynamicsNavigate in-laws, boundaries, and extended family with wisdom and united confidence.
- 10Parenting & LegacyRaise your children with intention and build a legacy that outlasts a single generation.
- 11Life ResilienceStay connected through grief, career shifts, illness, and the unexpected seasons of life.
- 12Vision & PurposeDefine where you are going together, and discover why that shared direction changes everything.
Same Goal, Different Routes
Where They Overlap, and Where They Differ
Both assessments do the same job. Each of you answers honestly. Your results show where you think alike and where you don't. Then a mentor helps you talk about the parts that matter. Neither one is a pass or fail test, and neither decides whether you should marry.
The difference is mostly about price and continuity. SYMBIS carries a licence fee and decades of research, and some couples choose it because a pastor or friend recommended it by name. The 12 Domains Assessment is ours, so it costs less, and it's the same language you'll meet in every MarriageWorks programme after the wedding. The areas you work on before you marry are the same ones your mentor, the Checkup and Foundations will come back to later.
If you're torn, that's fine. Neither path is second best. A free Discovery Call usually settles it.
A Quick Way to Decide
Which One Fits Your Season?
Choose 12 Domains If...
Budget matters, you'd rather use a framework built by the mentors you'll actually work with, or you want an assessment that carries into every future MarriageWorks programme you take.
Choose SYMBIS If...
You specifically want the SYMBIS name, often because a pastor, counsellor or friend recommended it, or you value its long research history and worldwide recognition.
Common Questions
Still Deciding?
It covers the same ground, from communication and conflict to finances, intimacy, faith and family, across twelve areas in total. SYMBIS has decades of published research behind it. Our 12 Domains framework is newer, built from real mentoring experience with hundreds of couples. Both come with 1:1 mentor sessions, which is where the real work happens.
We pay a licensing fee to use SYMBIS, on top of the mentoring time. The 12 Domains Assessment is our own, so there's no licence to pass on. That's exactly why we built it: so good pre-marriage preparation is within reach on any budget.
Yes. If you start with the Starter Bundle and later want the full SYMBIS Programme, or the other way round, mention it on your next call and we'll adjust.
SYMBIS and the Starter Bundle are built for couples preparing to marry or in their first years of marriage. The 12 Domains framework itself works at every stage, which is why married couples meet it in the free Marriage Checkup and in every MarriageWorks programme.
No. Both are mentoring tools, not clinical treatment. If something comes up that needs a counsellor or therapist, we'll say so honestly. Our guide to mentoring vs counselling explains the difference.
Honestly, both are good. If budget matters, or you like that it's the same framework used across every MarriageWorks programme, start with the 12 Domains Assessment. If you specifically want SYMBIS by name, often because a pastor or counsellor recommended it, go with SYMBIS. A free Discovery Call is the quickest way to decide.
Not Sure? Just Ask
Let Us Help You Choose.
A free, no-pressure Discovery Call is the fastest way to find the right pre-marriage path for your relationship.
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