Say “I Do” to Premarital Counseling

What is premarital counseling?

Premarital counseling is a type of structured therapy in which the goal is to set you and your partner up for a successful marriage. It is a time in which you are given the space and tools to ensure you have created a strong relationship foundation before you say “I do!”

Why do premarital counseling?

• Couples who participate in premarital counseling are 31% less likely to get divorced.

• Premarital counseling is associated with higher levels of marital satisfaction and interpersonal commitment to spouses, and lower levels of destructive conflicts.

• Premarital counseling helps couples set realistic goals for their marriage and align expectations. Each individual brings his or her own values, thoughts, and life experiences into a relationship. Many couples go into marriage assuming that the expectations they bring match their partner’s expectations, which can create friction in a marriage. Premarital counseling gives you the ability to discuss differences and expectations before marriage, so that you can better understand and support each other during marriage.

What to expect?

• Premarital counseling is different from traditional couples counseling in the way it is formatted. It is typically short term (2-3 months) and consists of approximately 8 visits.

  • Visits 1-3 consists of an initial couple’s assessment, individual assessments, valid/reliable questionnaires to measure strengths and growth areas as a couple, and learning communication skills that are vital to subsequent visits.

  • Visits 4-7 are customized for each couple. While addressing areas that you want to strengthen, you will also develop insight into managing finances, your core beliefs and values as a couple, your ideal roles in marriage, your desire to have children, and your unique ideas of family. Additionally, you will discuss, in depth, the best ways to show and receive affection from your significant other and your expectations for your intimate/sexual bond in your marriage. Finally, you will create a plan for how to best make decisions as a couple and how to effectively disagree with each other.

  • Visit 8 is a closing session, in which the cessation of counseling is discussed as well as ways to continue to invest in your relationship in the future.

References

Jayson, S. (2006, June 22). Premarital education could cut divorce rate, survey finds. USA Today. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-06-21-premarital-education_x.htm

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018, January 27). Premarital counseling. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/premarital-counseling/about/pac-20394892?page=0&citems=10