Premarital counseling is an excellent way to start your marital journey. This will give you a range of fundamental skills that you can use to communicate, resolve conflicts, and create a balance in your relationship. In this guide, we will go over some common goals of pre-marriage counseling so you know what to expect from the process.
Communicate Effectively
One of the most difficult challenges and any relationship is learning how to communicate with one another. Each of you processes information in a unique way. It’s important to understand how your partner interprets and expresses emotions, and your partner should know the same about you. Your premarital counselor can help you pinpoint the natural ways you communicate and teach you how to adapt those instincts to match your partner.
During couples counseling, you will to develop communication strategies that work specifically for your relationship dynamic. This will help you de-escalate arguments, build trust, and establish a clear flow of communication for the future.
Bring Closure to the Past
You don’t want to bring past problems into this new chapter of your relationship. If there are arguments that persistently happened now, you can assume they will only get worse when you get married. Bringing closure to those arguments and the experiences associated with them will help you move forward with a clean slate. For instance, if there was an issue with infidelity early in the relationship, you can make sure that issue will not create problems during your marriage. Your premarital counselor will be there to guide you every step of the way.
Learn How to Prepare for Future Discussions
There are discussions and potential disagreements that will arise in your marriage, just like they do with every other marriage. You do not have to tackle these difficult obstacles alone. Your marriage counselor will help you navigate the tough talks said you can come out on the other end successfully. Your counselor will give you advice that is specific to your lifestyle.
Talk about Issues You May Be Avoiding
There are probably some discussions that you have put off because you just don’t want to face them. Example: talking about your debts and incomes. As difficult as it is to confront those issues, you should do that as part of your pre-marriage counseling. Your counselor can guide you through the discussions and the emotions that may arise from them. In the end, you will have a stronger relationship because you have sound solutions for your struggles, and you will be better prepared for a future together.
How to Find Pre-Marriage Counseling near You
If you are ready to work with a premarital counselor, contact Oakland Psychological Clinic. We have eight counseling centers in Michigan, and they all offer pre-marriage counseling services. We also provide individual counseling, family counseling, anger management, stress and anxiety counseling, depression counseling, and more. Contact the therapist’s office nearest to you to find the right setup for your family.