Hi, we're Kristi and Kevin
If you're engaged, you've probably heard some version of "you should do premarital counseling." Maybe from a parent, a pastor, or a friend who swears it saved them a lot of fights. What people rarely mention is who you'll be sitting across from.
So let us introduce ourselves. We're Kristi and Kevin, a married couple in Durham, North Carolina, and we're the coaches behind Bull City Coaching. We work with engaged couples across Durham and the Triangle, and we do it together, in every session.
We met in 2015 in Los Angeles, California. Quickly became friends and then a year and a half later decided that we liked each other enough to take a gamble on the friendship. 10 years later, we're happy to report we're still good friends ;)
The marriage behind the coaching
We'd love to tell you everything has been smooth sailing since we met. It hasn't, and that's exactly why we do this work.
Our wedding was rescheduled four times during the pandemic. Since then, we've moved across the country to a state we'd never seen, worked through grad school and a stretch of unemployment, started a company, changed jobs, etc. We've also built a cross-cultural marriage, which means learning that "normal" in one family can look very different in another.
None of that was in our plans when we started daydreaming about a life together. But we weren't caught completely off guard, because before we got married, we had already talked about the things most couples avoid: money, family, roles, how we handle stress, and how we fight. Those conversations didn't prevent hard seasons. They gave us a shared language and the tools to navigate the hard times as a team.
That's what we want for every couple we meet: not a promise that it will all "just work out", but the tools to start your marriage aligned.
Why we chose Prepare/Enrich
When we got engaged, a couple we admired took us through Prepare/Enrich, a research-based relationship assessment developed by Dr. David Olson. You can read more about how Prepare/Enrich works on our blog.
Three things won us over:
It's grounded in research. Kevin, a therapist by training, recognized the relationship science behind it from his own work. That gave us confidence it was more than a quiz.
It shows strengths, not just problems. Couples are often surprised by how much is already working.
It doesn't hand you a template. Prepare/Enrich doesn't tell you what roles a husband or wife "should" play. It helps you see your own expectations clearly, so you can build the marriage that fits your life.
Today we're both certified Prepare/Enrich facilitators, and it's the foundation of every coaching program we offer.
Why two coaches are better than one
Most premarital programs pair a couple with one counselor or one pastor. We do it differently, on purpose.
You get two perspectives. Kevin brings 15 years of experience as a therapist by training, helping people through life's big transitions with a calm, practical, no-judgment presence. Kristi is a global speaker on technology ethics who helps people navigate change, communicate clearly, and bridge cultures. Between us, we tend to notice different things, and you benefit from both.
Nobody feels outnumbered. With one coach, it can feel like two against one. With two of us in the room, both partners have someone who gets where they're coming from.
We model what we teach. You'll see a real married couple listen, disagree, and work it out in front of you. We're not perfect at it, and we'll tell you so. Ask us anything about our own relationship.
What coaching is (and isn't). Coaching is educational and focused on skills and goals. We help you set goals for your marriage, use your Prepare/Enrich results as a roadmap, and practice the skills that get you there, in session and at home. Coaching doesn't diagnose or treat mental health conditions or past trauma, and it isn't a substitute for therapy. If something comes up that needs more support, we'll tell you openly and point you to the right resources. You can read more about what premarital coaching is on our blog.
What working with us looks like
Here's the short version:
Free intro call. Meet us, ask questions, and see if we're a fit.
Take the assessment. Each of you completes Prepare/Enrich online, on your own time, in about 30 to 45 minutes.
Review your results together. We walk through your strengths and growth areas, never as a grade.
Build skills. Communication, conflict, stress, family expectations, and the topics that matter most to you.
Leave with a plan. And celebrate how far you've come.
The program is 4 sessions with both of us, plus both assessments, for $500. For more on how sessions work, read what to expect in premarital coaching.
Not ready to book yet? Start at home with our 20 questions to ask before you get married.
Let's talk
You don't need a problem to work on your relationship. The best time to build these habits is before the wedding, while things are good.
If you're engaged (or about to be) and want to start your marriage aligned, we'd love to meet you. The intro call is free and there's no pressure.
