Any major transition in life benefits from thought and preparation.
When a couple makes the decision to arrange a wedding or a civil partnership, premarital counseling can help them explore their expectations, their plans for the future, and what might be involved when sharing their lives together. Individual styles of relating, which are often based on past family and life experiences, can be explored and understood.
The premartial counseling may include identifying the particular elements that their relationship needs to flourish and succeed, and how they will accept and manage their differences.
With the aim of creating a healthy, trusting and secure base to the relationship, our counselors sensitively offer couples the opportunity to discuss and examine their shared intentions as well as their personal needs, hopes and longings. Finding mutual agreement on important values and principles can help avoid many pitfalls.
We can help couples thinking of taking the next step in their relationship. Our qualified cognitive-behavioral relationship therapist will work with you in a perfect environment, and discuss issues around:
How your differences can be a strength
Improving communication skills
What conflicts could occur and how to prevent / resolve
Recognizing and meeting each other's emotional needs
How intimacy with one another can grow over time
The steps to take in having a healthy argument
How to keep the romance alive for years
You will spend some time looking at how your relationship is currently, along with who are as people. We all change over time as do the feelings you have about your partner that develop and mature over time. Having an understanding of the stages relationships go through can really help you change and adapt together. You will learn the importance of being open and honest and how to say things in the ‘right’ way. The aim of pre-marital counseling
The aim is to create a firm foundation for dealing with arguments and differences
You will find out what each of you is bringing to the relationship
Understand each other’s needs more clearly
Understand and appreciate what each of you bring to the relationship.
Have a safe space to explore your expectations of each other
In step families learn how to deal with the pull of different loyalties and demands of forming a new family with step-children
Whether it’s for the first time for you or if you are making a new start. Pre-marital counseling looks at hopes, fears, expectations around marriage or living together.
You and your partner have arguments that don’t get resolved
You feel like you’re always the one who has to compromise to keep the peace
You’re concerned about how your partner’s financial situation will affect you as a married couple
You’re worried about losing affection or having a diminished sex life after marriage
You want to find healthier ways to resolve conflict
You want to resolve religious or financial differences
You want to define your marital roles and expectations
You just want the best relational foundation possible for you
In pre-marital counseling, we will likely bring up topics that you’ve discussed with your partner previously, as well as subjects you hadn’t considered before.
This fresh perspective from an objective third party will uncover new details from and for your partner. This is also an excellent time for us to find unexpected areas where you disagree, and give you the tools to handle possible future conflict.
Getting married is one of life’s most treasured and rewarding experiences. I can personally attest to this having been married for over 20 years.
Premarital counseling can help you and your partner turn that momentous occasion into a loving, lasting relationship. For guidance and support to strengthen your future marriage, please contact us today so we can schedule an appointment.
