If you are about to get married, you may have considered the idea of premarital counseling. Here are seven benefits that both individuals can experience by participating in this much-needed stage of their journey together as husband and wife.
Create a solid foundation for marriage
The ultimate goal of premarital counseling is to help you begin your marriage off on the right foot. You are establishing a foundation for your relationship that will undoubtedly help it grow well into the future. Besides, if there are any unresolved issues between you, this is the best time to address them. Counseling can help bring about solutions that will aid your future together.
Discuss touchy subjects without worrying about offending your spouse
There are many topics that couples struggle to discuss, but these issues may be even be more difficult if no groundwork has been laid before the marriage. Premarital counseling is the perfect opportunity to discuss tough subjects in a supportive atmosphere. You will most likely feel comfortable expressing your thoughts with your counselor without worrying about offending your future spouse.
Discuss money before you become obligated
Many individuals fight over finances during their marriage simply because they never discussed them prior to saying “I do”. Premarital counseling provides the perfect atmosphere to discuss your financial future together. Whether you are planning on combining bank accounts, sharing credit cards, or opening new ones; you will avoid fighting over money after marriage simply because you already had this conversation.
Discuss sexual issues before they become problematic
One of the most difficult topics for many couples is to address sexual issues. Unfortunately, if left unresolved these problems can lead to infidelity or even divorce down the road. Premarital counseling provides the opportunity to discuss your sexual expectations and desires with one another before they become a major source of conflict in your marriage.
Discuss family-of-origin baggage and how it affects your relationship
One of the biggest mistakes that couples make is assuming that just because they love each other their families will be able to get along. This is not always true and can sometimes cause tension in your marriage. Premarital counseling can help you discuss these issues before they become a problem or worse; lead to the breakdown of your marriage.
Discuss parenting styles and expectations of your future children
While this topic may be difficult, it is essential that couples discuss their thoughts on how they want to fit into their children’s lives. Premarital counseling provides the perfect opportunity to discuss what you each expect from one another if this becomes an issue within your marriage down the road. If there are any disagreements between you that cannot be resolved, then at least you can feel confident knowing that you each gave it your best shot to come up with an amicable solution.
Discuss what life will be like after marriage prior to officially becoming husband and wife
After saying “I do” there is not much time for reflection or introspection about how your life has changed. Premarital counseling can give you the opportunity to discuss all of the changes that have occurred within your relationship as a couple and individually before taking those vows. This is an ideal time to reflect on your expectations because everyone knows how quickly things can change once you say “I do”.
Bottom line
While everyone’s situation will be different, it is not difficult to see why so many couples choose to receive premarital counseling. The benefits of such counseling are endless and can help improve your marriage well before you ever take those vows. Also, couples therapy can help create a solid foundation for the relationship. Since you will be able to discuss sensitive issues in a supportive environment, you should be able to establish a strong foundation for your future together.