What is premarital counseling?
Premarital counseling or therapy is typically offered by a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) trained in psychotherapy and family systems.
Premarital therapy can provide an open and honest forum to discuss:
- Whether marriage is right for you and whether right now is the right time
- Important issues that contribute to a long and healthy marriage, such as lifestyle, finances, sex, children, and career
- The inevitable anxieties or disagreements that arise during wedding planning
- Common pitfalls that occur when you join your life to another
Seeking therapy before marriage can help couples ensure a long, happy, healthy marriage.
Who should see a premarital therapist?
Premarital therapy can benefit every couple:
- Couples who have been together for many years and those who are in a relatively new relationship
- Straight couples, gay couples, and everything in between
- Couples with children between them and those who plan to have children together
- Couples on their first marriage and couples on their second, third, or fourth marriage
Therapy provides a safe environment to discuss critical issues that will help you build a life together. I will help you create a lifelong habit of honest discourse that will benefit your marriage forever.
What happens during premarital therapy?
Premarital therapy is a unique opportunity to surface each partner's thoughts about the relationship and marriage in an environment of support. It might seem contradictory as you move toward your wedding day to share concerns you might have about the person with whom you've agreed to share your life. However, even when you are madly in love, it is natural to wonder about your future with your intended. It is best to work through these concerns before your wedding day.
As your therapist, it's my job to facilitate this honest discussion. This will not only help you explore issues as you plan your wedding, but it will provide a foundation of trust and a habit of communication that will serve your marriage well for years.
Premarital therapy is always responsive to the unique needs of the couple, but here are a few common issues that are commonly discussed:
Is this the right person for me?
You may find yourself wondering: "is this person right for me?"
This is not an unusual concern but shouldn't be ignored! Instead, give yourself and your future marriage the gift of a place to discuss and resolve these concerns. Premarital counseling is structured to uncover problem areas and create a healthy environment for open discussion. The answer to the question, "Is this person right for me?" will become evident throughout the process.
To be clear, this question is not only for bright-eyed young couples! Premarital therapy provides a safe haven for:
- Couples who are entering a new marriage when one or both have been previously married
- Couples with a complicated history who are trying again or have overcome a betrayal
- Long-distance relationships for couples considering marriage
- Couples planning to blend two families who are navigating prior partners and shared custody
Premarital therapy can help every couple land on the same page before their marriage.