Our Founders
We are Jared and Kaara, the co-founders of Authentic Marriages, a faith-based, relationship ministry, designed to promote emotionally and spiritually healthy marriages globally. Jared is a double boarded, licensed Adult, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Relationship Coach. Kaara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Relationship Coach with experience in individual and couples therapy with a specialization in healing emotional trauma. Together we bring over 20 years of combined professional experience in the mental health field working with individuals, families and couples using evidenced-based interventions.
The Truth About Marriage
In our society it is not uncommon to find couples that are secretly suffering in unhappy marriages. Pride, fear of rejection and public humiliation prevents us from speaking our truth in an authentic way. Discussing challenges in marital relationships openly and honestly is often avoided. This subculture unintentionally creates an unsafe environment for couples to be vulnerable with friends, family and even those in the church! It leaves couples alienated and left to suffer silently in their marriages. When you live a lie or present a false narrative of your marriage, you inherently have an inauthentic marriage. This adds even more stress to an already overwhelming situation.
Here at Authentic Marriages we strive to keep it REAL! Simply speaking, nothing is off limits! We don’t want to present a fairytale version of marriage but rather a realistic view of the blessings and challenges that every marriage may face. We hope to discuss topics that touch the core of people’s marriages even if it is difficult or uncomfortable to engage. Our goal is to equip couples with the tools needed to help their marriage become happy, healthy and holy.
We’re here to help couples restore their marriage
What makes us different?
In one word…authentic. Being authentic is a value we hold in high esteem. We have seen and heard so many couples say, “We thought it was just us! We felt so alone…We didn’t know anyone else struggling with their relationship.” Raise your hand if you can relate? Me too!! Growing up in the Caribbean, we were taught, “Don’t air your dirty laundry in public.” In other words, no one must know your personal problems. While there is some wisdom in not parading your problems to everyone out there, our culture inadvertently taught us not to seek professional help when we needed it! Therefore, it was commonplace to find many couples suffering silently, most believing they were the only ones with issues…Thus creating a feeling of even more alienation and unnecessary suffering.
Our goal is to break those barriers of silence and avoidable pain and suffering in relationships. We want you to have the marriage you dreamed of! We believe with the right tools, practice and time, you can have a thriving and fulfilling marriage. We are not selling a quick fix program or an unrealistic dream. We believe that emotional healing takes time. We believe that most marriages can recover from even the most difficult circumstance with the right support. And we are here to offer you that support in a safe environment!
We believe learning must be fun! This is not your run of the mill boring marriage duo. We believe that having fun should be a key ingredient to life. So we bring the fun, laughs and games with us at all of our events! So when you join us, expect to learn, expect to be challenged but also expect to have a good time!
More About Us
Curious to know more about us? We’ve been together for 21 years and happily married for 16, with two energetic kids, ages 7 and 10. Born in the Caribbean (Jamaica and Trinidad), we now call Atlanta home. With over 20 years of professional experience, we’re passionate about helping couples thrive. Kaara is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma and couples therapy, while Jared is a psychiatrist with a background in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. We both use therapeutic models like Emotionally Focused Therapy and EMDR to support couples in their journey.
Are you ready to take the first step towards a more fulfilling relationship?
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Are you ready to take the first step towards a better you?
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Are you ready to take the first step towards a better you?
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Are you ready to take the first step towards a more fulfilling relationship? - Are you ready to take the first step towards a better you? - Are you ready to take the first step towards a better you? -
Success StoriesWhat my clients have to say about working with me
Authentic Marriages is exceptional. Kaara and Jared genuinely care and their courses have been a true blessing. Highly recommend.
— Newly Married Wife
I appreciated the course’s diversity and relaxed, engaging atmosphere. Kaara and Jared made sure everyone felt heard and involved.
— Engaged Couple
I joined a newlyweds group. Kaara and Jared were excellent, combining passion with 15 years of marriage and mental health expertise.
— Engaged Couple
Authentic MarriagesConflict Cycles Quiz
Uncover relationship patterns with our Conflict Cycles Quiz. Identify dynamics that lead to misunderstandings with your partner. Recognizing these cycles helps break negative patterns and enhance communication. Take the quiz to understand your conflict style and start your path to lasting harmony.
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