Marriage involves a huge commitment between two people. No other relationship, except perhaps parenthood, even comes close in terms of the challenges and triumphs of marriage. Therefore, getting married without pre marriage counseling is like starting a business or any important venture without proper preparation. It is something different from
psychotherapy.
When getting married, most of the couples are not aware of the compromises and responsibilities that come with their wedding knot. Thus, nowadays many people choose to undergo pre marriage counseling to help their married life and make the marriage partners happier. Premarital counseling is also called as premarital preparation. Generally, it includes topics such as:
- Commitments and anxieties
- Duties and responsibilities
- Division of household cores
- Religious preferences
- Sexual relations
- How to deal with in-laws
- Family planning and discipline
- Unspoken issues on either end
Premarital counseling can benefit any couple that is planning to get married. Half of all marriages fail. Why, it is because of the lack of understanding. Research has proven that premarital counseling helps the couples to make their married life successful.
A pre marriage counselor is able to start your lifelong relationship off on the right track. It is very important to remember that the word counseling can sometimes be misleading. Premarital counseling is not a form of therapy. Most commonly,
pre marriage counseling is education. It is helpful in its own way. Usually it does not provide the same kind of intensive and comprehensives skill building and education as marriage preparation. Sometimes it includes assessments of inventory and skills training are included, often they are not.
Pre marriage programs and counselors are looking for-
- Compatibility
- Expectations
- Personalities and families-of-origin
- Communication
- Conflict resolution
- Intimacy and sexuality
- Long-term goals
Benefits of Pre marriage counseling
- significantly reduces risk of divorce
- Strengthens communication skills
- Discusses roles and expectations hence reduces clashes
- Teaches conflict resolution tricks
- Identifies any problematic family issue and solves it
- Develops personal , couple and even family goals
- Explores spiritual beliefs
Therefore, pre marriage counseling should be encouraged for couples to give their marriages the best possible start and make their life happier. However, pre marriage counseling does not guarantees life-long commitment and union, but it can reduce the risk of divorces. If you are looking for any pre marriage counselor, Jodi L Gilbert is offering you the same. Visit her at www.jodigilbertlcsw.com
