Planning a wedding is an exciting time, but it can become overwhelming with seemingly a million things to do like finding the right venue, sending the invites, choosing a color palette.
With all of the focus and attention on this one big day, preparing for the lifetime to follow can easily be overlooked and this is where premarital counseling comes in.
Perhaps this sounds slightly serious, but pre-marital counseling is for any couple who wants to begin their marriage with a foundation of both communication and understanding.
Strengthen Your Communication Skills
Everyone communicates in different ways, but the process of communicating with someone within a relationship is what will or will not resolve issues.
It’s not working on the problems; it’s how you solve them together.
Communication is the key to any successful relationship, and couples need to learn the art of communicating openly and in the best possible way.
And this is what pre-marriage counseling teaches.
You’ll learn how to:
- Express needs without blame
- Really listen to your partner
- Communicate conflicts in a way that solidifies your connection
With effective communication skills, couples are seen, heard, and supported not only on good days but particularly on bad days.
Come Prepared for Anything
It’s common knowledge that there will eventually be some ‘bumps in the road’ for every couple.
With premarital counseling, all this gets discussed and brought to the forefront before it all has a chance to snowball.
You might cover topics like:
- Money – how you budget, save, and spend as a couple
- Family dynamics – dealing with in-laws or creating your family traditions
- Work-life balance – working together towards your goals while spending good quality time
By addressing these issues early on, you’ll have a plan for dealing with them should they come up later.
Create a Deeper Emotional Bond
This is the beauty of all this premarital counseling; it can bring couples closer together.
Sharing and discussing core values, aspirations and dreams will help us get to know each other at deeper levels.
This will help you to learn:
- What makes your partner actually tick?
- How do we really meet each other’s emotional needs?
- What kind of future do both of you want to create together?
It creates a stronger base footing with an emotionally enriching bond for a healthier, satisfied and stronger marriage to prosper.
You’re Investing in Your Future
Consider this: if you were about to take up a new job or a hobby, surely you would first take time to research and learn about it.
Premarital counseling is an investment of time to equip you with the tools and knowledge to help your relationship succeed well into the future.
Couples who prepare and communicate tend to report higher satisfaction levels in their marriage.
Investing in it now can lead to a stronger relationship later.
Who Is Premarital Counseling For?
Sometimes there’s the mistaken belief that premarital counseling is only for couples who can’t get along. It’s nothing of the sort. It’s for anyone who:
- Wants to build a strong foundation for their marriage.
- Wants to learn how to disagree constructively.
- Wants to create a shared vision for their future.
No matter how in sync they feel, every couple can use a little support.
Make Room for Growth
More than a relationship, marriage is treated as an association for life.
The only thing premarital counseling does is teach you how to grow together instead of growing apart.
You’re going to develop resources to:
- Move through major transitions in life, such as changing jobs, having your first child, or retiring.
- Stay engaged at times of busyness and stress.
- Solve problems together as a team, big and small.
Next Steps
In all seriousness, premarital counseling should not just be a box to tick before marriage.
It should serve as a notice to anyone intending to get married that building a future should be done with intent, goodwill, and understanding.
At My Tribe Counseling, everyone deserves the best beginning possible.
Experienced counselors set the foundation for:
- Stronger connections
- Richer communication
- Healthier partnerships
Call us at (813) 510-0572 to get more information about our premarital counseling services.
FAQs
Why do couples do premarital counseling?
To get ready for marriage and strengthen the relationship. It’s a place to boost communication, address possible challenges, and really understand each other.
When should a couple seek counseling?
Marriage counseling is advisable during any period in a relationship, although couples normally seek the service before momentous changes such as marriage to ensure that they have the resources to survive in the union.
When should we do premarital counseling?
Most couples will begin premarital counseling three months before the marriage, putting them in an ‘ample time’ position to look into major issues before the big day finally arrives.
What are the reasons that couples seek marriage counseling?
A couple can go to marriage therapy for almost any reason:
- To improve communication
- Resolve conflict
- Get reacquainted
It’s just a helpful way to strengthen any relationship.