Premarital Counseling
Sound Premarital Support in the Bay Area
Premarital Counseling
Resolving conflicts with effective strategies
Pre-marriage counseling is one of the most beneficial things that a couple can do before they get married. Premarital counseling is a specialized type of therapy usually provided by marriage and family therapists, and it offers benefits to all couples who are considering a long-term commitment such as marriage.
The goal of premarital counseling is to identify and address any potential areas of conflict in a relationship early on before those issues become serious concerns. Premarital counseling can also teach partners effective strategies for discussing and resolving conflict.
Premarital Issues That I Counsel On
There are several common issues that I address in premarital counseling, including:
- Communication and conflict resolution skills
- Interdependency vs. Codependency
- Family dynamics and expectations
- Religion and spirituality
- Sex and intimacy
- Kids and Parenting
- Leisure time and hobbies
- Career goals and ambitions
- Personal values and beliefs
- Life goals and plans for the future
- Previous partners – how to deal with them moving forward
- Creating a Marriage Mission Statement
Benefits of Premarital Counseling
Studies have shown that couples who participate in premarital counseling are more likely to report higher levels of relationship satisfaction, communication satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction than couples who do not participate in counseling. In addition, premarital counseling has been shown to reduce the risk of divorce.
If you are considering getting married, I encourage you to consider participating in premarital counseling. It can be a valuable investment in your relationship and may help you avoid and address some common relationship pitfalls.
Challenges in Premarital Counseling
Like all types of counseling, premarital counseling is not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is getting couples to commit to the process. Premarital counseling requires a significant investment of time and energy, and dedication is required to make that commitment.
Another challenge is that premarital counseling can sometimes be difficult. Couples may be resistant to discussing tricky topics such as infidelity or financial concerns. However, it is important to remember that the goal of premarital counseling is to identify and address any potential areas of conflict in a relationship early on before those issues become serious roadblocks.
What to Expect in our Sessions
If you are interested in participating in premarital counseling, please contact me to set up an initial consultation. During the consultation, we will discuss your goals for counseling and decide whether premarital counseling is right for you.
If we decide to proceed with premarital counseling, we will meet for weekly or biweekly sessions. Each session will last 50 minutes, and we will discuss the topics that you have identified as being important to your relationship. I may also provide you with some tools to try out at home to help you practice the skills that we learn in counseling.
I understand that getting married is a big decision, and I am here to support you as you navigate this decision-making process.
To learn more about premarital counseling or to schedule an appointment.