What Are the Advantages of Pre-Marriage Counseling?

If you and your partner are planning to get married, there’s likely a lot on your plates already. You have a wedding to plan, people to tell, and a future to think about. There are a lot of big decisions to be made, and you get to make them with the person you love at your side.

However, there’s one thing that could benefit so many couples that often goes ignored — pre-marriage counseling.

Attending counseling before walking down the aisle doesn’t mean there’s a problem in your relationship. It’s a way to give you the tools you need to keep your relationship happy and healthy for the rest of your lives. While pre-marriage counseling isn’t some kind of quick fix or guarantee that your marriage will be perfect, it can help you address issues, express yourself, and lead to a more satisfying marriage over the years.

Still not convinced? Let’s take a look at some of the biggest advantages of pre-marriage counseling.

Understanding Expectations

A wedding is one day of your life. A marriage is every day after. You might think you know everything about your partner (and vice versa), but do you both really know what your expectations are for a marriage?

Counseling will help you both bring those expectations forward so you can develop an understanding of each other. You’ll also be able to openly discuss and set goals for your marriage, allowing you to be on the same page from day one.

Better Communication

Healthy communication is the cornerstone of a strong relationship. Building robust communication patterns now will make it easier for both of you to express your needs, show vulnerability, and feel safe and validated when you talk about your feelings.

Learning better communication skills through counseling will also make it easier to navigate conflict within your marriage. Yes, there will be conflict. Even the healthiest, happiest couples argue. It’s how you choose to work through those arguments that makes a difference.

Counseling can even help you identify potential problems in your marriage now, so you can work through them with the guidance and support of a counselor while learning how to effectively deal with other conflicts in the future.

Addressing Intimacy

Pre-marriage counseling provides a safe space to address topics that might be a bit uncomfortable for you to talk about. That includes any concerns you might have about intimacy in your marriage.

You’ll be able to express your needs and wants freely while learning more about what your partner really wants. Talking openly about intimacy can boost your connection and help to alleviate any underlying fears you’ve been dealing with. When you realize that talking about these sensitive subjects doesn’t mean your partner will judge you, you’ll be more likely to keep communicating about them throughout your marriage.

Exploring Love Languages

People express and receive love differently. Pre-marriage counseling gives you and your partner the opportunity to look at each other’s love languages. When does your partner feel the most love from you? What can they do to express their love? This kind of exploration will help you both understand what you can (and should) do within your marriage to express love effectively.

Pre-marriage counseling helps to build a solid foundation for your relationship to stand on. Think of it as being able to go into your marriage with an extra toolbox full of things that can help you for years to come.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of pre-marriage counseling or you’re ready to set up an appointment for you and your future spouse, don’t hesitate to contact us today!