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She is
now enjoying success as the founder and chief executive
officer of the Detroit-based Finner-Williams and Associates
Psychological Services, created in 1979, and the legal
professional association of Paris M. Finner-Williams,
Esq., P.C., created in 1991. As business teammates,
she and her husband Robert D. Williams are popular guests
on radio and television offering advice on male-female
relationships and motivational issues. They are also
authors of numerous publications and articles, including
their most recent book "Single Wisdom: Empowering
Singles, Divorcees, Widows & Widowers for Living a Purposeful
Life of Integrity and Learning the Art of Establishing
Healthy Romantic and Marital Relationships".
"I knew
I couldn't keep up the pace of working full-time in
the county and full-time for my practice," Finner-Williams
said. "After Rob and I got married the emphasis became
in creating a private practice...where we could be more
independent in our choices on how to serve people. God
has been faithful since. Now I have more control over
who we serve, how we serve, and am able to serve those
who can't afford to pay for services."
Their
latest book is her way of expanding their assistance
to even more African-American Christians who are determined
not to become additions to Barna Research Group's 2004
finding that 51 percent of American marriages end in
divorce.
Each chapter
uses scriptures and modern-day personal examples to
help divorcees, singles who have never married, widows
and widowers maximize their singleness and prepare to
be Godly spouses if they marry.
One section
of the book shares important lessons singles can learn
from Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion
from the 1939 classic movie, The Wizard of Oz.
"It's
probably the most empowering chapter for African-Americans
about the happiness that comes from taking control of
life," Finner-Williams said. "The Wizard of Oz chapter
is focused on...changing the way you perceive your encounters
in life and knowing the power you have through Jesus
Christ to be in control of self to make the most purposeful
choices in life. We really wanted to put the emphasis
on self empowerment in this book."
More than
30 years as a professional mental health pioneer make
Finner-Williams a qualified author for this book and
leader in her practice. She is a fully licensed clinical
psychologist, forensic examiner diplomat, certified
rehabilitation counselor, certified Christian mediator,
certified Christian counselor, licensed attorney and
counselor at law, author, trainer, and conference speaker.
Additionally,
her own successful marriage of 17 years is a testimony
to the benefits of making wise, Godly choices before
and during marriage and having positive examples to
follow, said her husband Robert D. Williams.
"When
I married her she had a lot of degrees, but she still
had human interest," said Williams, a licensed marriage
and family therapist, diplomat in clinical social work,
and certified addiction counselor with more than 30
years of experience in clinical practice and mental
health administration. "She's not egotistical or braggadocios.
That made us come together. She wanted to help people
and so did I.
"The (relationship)
wisdom that we have was there before we got together.
My mother was married to a man for 57 years and has
13 children. (Finner-Williams') aunt has been married
52 years. So, we had examples of wisdom to follow. We
teach other people those principles."
A big
part of that teaching is done through each dating couple's
own exploration of each other. The Finner-Williams Pre-Marital
Screening Questionnaire, included in the book, leads
couples through 157 questions designed to force them
to really get to know each other beyond infatuation.
Detailed inquiries, separated into scored categories
based on the number of months the couple has been dating,
include knowing the love interest's full name, values,
personal and family history, goals, and financial status.
Rebecca
F. Osaigbovo wrote a raving review for the back of their
book and encouraged her own 22-year-old daughter, and
25- and 19-year-old sons to read the book. The author
of Chosen Vessels and It's Not About You -
It's About God said Single Wisdom is a book
that should be in the hands of every person before they
consider marriage.
"There's
not a whole lot of books that help prepare people for
marriage and go through the questions they need to consider,"
Osaigbovo said. "A lot of people go into it blindly
without putting a lot of thought into it. So, the book
was good for getting people started to talking and thinking
about what they're looking for in a marriage."
Top Five Ways to be Single, Wise and Happy
1.
Don't focus too much on the fact that you are single
and unmarried. Instead embrace your "singledom" and
seek productive activities to fulfill your God-given
purpose in life, then your God-given husband or wife
will arrive.
2.
Don't invest any more in a person than you are willing
to lose.
3.
Don't expect someone to love you if you are incapable
of loving yourself first.
4.
Don't be scared to have candid and respectful communication
to discover if your mate is truly "the one.
5.
Don't resurrect old relationships. When the relationship
is dead, place it among dead things.
PRESS CONTACT:
Pam Perry, Director Public Relations
Ministry Marketing Solutions, Inc.
pamperry@ministrymarketingsolutions.com
248-426-2300
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