Pre Marriage Counseling - Do I Need It?

Since you are reading this article on pre marriage counseling, it is most likely because you are in a committed relationship. Now you and your soulmate are contemplating ramping it up a bit on the committment scale. You love each other. Isn't that enough? Why would you even think about sharing your private thoughts and feelings with some counselor- a total stranger?

Well, perhaps injecting a bit of 3rd-party objectivity into the situation would be helpful. Having learned from many years of interpersonal behavioral research, professional counselors are quite knowledgeable about what makes people do what they do, and how they respond to stressful situations and crises. They know methods by which couples can achieve a higher level of satisfaction and better communication in their marriages. Before you tie the knot, you really should consider taking advantage of pre marriage counseling. This will do two things for you. First, it will help you and your partner understand each other better. And second, it will help you both to learn about the challenges and rewards that lie ahead for you as a married couple.

Pre marriage counseling has been shown to reduce the incidence of divorce. Couples who have attended pre marital counseling generally have stronger skills for dealing with problems they may face together. Pre marriage counseling creates an awareness of issues that might occur in a marriage. It also helps you to know whether or not you are really ready for marriage. Counseling may be a single, intensive session, or it might be in the form of a course that lasts a few weeks.

So, once you've decided that pre marriage counseling is the way to go, where do you go? You can choose between secular and religious counselors. Non-profit organizations, professional marriage counselors in private practice, colleges, churches and other religious groups offer pre marriage counseling. Online marriage counseling is also available, which you might find to be more convenient. Secular counselors work primarily from a psychological perspective, whereas religious counselors also try to provide spiritual guidance to strengthen your relationship.

Popular topics of discussion in pre marital counseling courses include values and beliefs, development of conflict resolution skills, sex and intimacy, communication skills, marriage expectations, family goals, role relationships, child rearing, and family finances. Also, some pre marriage counseling courses include the sharing of group experiences, outside reading and homework assignments These activities are all designed to help couples build a solid foundation for their life together.

Before you select a counselor, be sure to check their educational background, license or certification, references, and professional affiliations. Keep in mind that pre marriage counseling is an important investment in your happiness.

Read my "5 Tips to Help You Stay Together" here: Questions For Couples

Get to know your partner better! Read my "Top 10 Questions For Couples" here: Top 10 Questions For Couples