The Benefits of Premarital Counseling
- Shumay Counseling
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
With all the excitement that comes with an engagement or relationship milestones, there can sometimes be a fear of the unknown. When it comes to marrying your significant other, you often want to find ways to make sure you can build a marriage that will last, but where do you begin, and how do you know what will work best for both of you?
What can you expect from premarital counseling?
According to PsychCentral, in premarital counseling, you’ll improve communication and learn to handle conflicts. You’ll also discuss key issues like finances and family planning to build a strong foundation for marriage.
What are the benefits?
Premarital counseling helps couples bring potential differences and disagreements to the surface while teaching them the appropriate communication skills and conflict resolution skills, so that if they were to come across any issues in the future, they would have a better idea of how to navigate them together. It also helps bring forward important discussions about core values and can help couples learn more about their partner and what is important to both of them.
Research shows that couples who attend premarital counseling together have a 31% lower chance of divorce, and they experience a 30% increase in the quality of their marital relations.
The different kinds of premarital counseling.
Traditional premarital counseling - Consists of working with a licensed therapist to help improve communication skills, conflict resolution skills, and learn about financial management. Focuses on helping you and your significant other understand each others values and expectations for your future marriage and life together.
Faith-based premarital counseling - Best suited for couples looking for counseling that aligns with their faith. Focuses more on religious beliefs, marriage roles, and core spiritual values. Guides couples in treating their future marriage as a sacred commitment and covenant with God.
Workshop-based premarital counseling - Consists of group sessions with a licensed therapist and other couples. It includes interactive exercises, group discussions, and different resources, such as workbooks that you can complete with your partner.
When is the best time to start premarital counseling?
The best time to begin premarital counseling is usually 6-12 months before your wedding date. The earlier you plan it the better, as it can also help with the wedding process and managing the stress that comes along with it. Though, this can be different for every couple, so make sure to discuss it beforehand to see where you both stand.
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