Premarital Counselling: The Key to Strong and Stable Relationships
Congratulations, you’re engaged! You are on the road to a lifetime of love, commitment, and happiness with your significant other. As excited as you might be, jumping into marriage without addressing important issues can lead to future misunderstandings and potential conflict.
This is where premarital counselling comes in. What is Premarital Counselling?
Premarital counselling is a form of couples therapy that provides education and guidance to help couples establish strong and stable relationships. Its aim is to help couples understand each other’s expectations, values, and needs before marriage to avoid future complications.
Timing of Pre-Marital Counselling
It’s important to schedule premarital counselling regularly, especially if you’re anticipating a wedding, and weekly sessions are optimal. This will give you the opportunity to reflect on topics you’ll discuss, practice skills training, conflict resolution, and receive guidance you both need.
Counselling Sessions
During premarital counselling, you’ll work with a licensed therapist who specializes in working with couples. The therapist will guide you through a series of discussions and exercises designed to help you communicate effectively, gain insight about each other’s thoughts and feelings, and acquire problem-solving skills better.
Benefits of Premarital Counselling
Improved Communication and Conflict Resolution
Effective communication styles and problem-solving skills are essential in any healthy relationship. One of the main benefits of premarital counselling is learning how to communicate effectively with your partner.
You’ll know how to listen and communicate in a way that will help you coexist in harmony. Additionally, you’ll learn important conflict resolution skills that will help you navigate through tough situations.
Acknowledgment of Differences and Respect
We all have our unique personalities, interests, and beliefs. Acknowledging these differences is critical in maintaining a healthy relationship.
In premarital counselling, you’ll learn about each other’s individual expectations, core values, and more. By doing so, you’ll avoid any potential misunderstandings, and respect each other better.
Financial Planning
Finances are a critical component of any marriage. How you expect to spend, save, and invest money is essential to discuss before jumping into marriage.
With premarital counselling, you and your partner will learn the importance of budgeting, expenses, and savings. You’ll work together towards a shared financial goal, and you’ll be less likely to experience financial conflict in the future.
Intimacy and Relationships
Physical intimacy is an essential part of any romantic relationship. In premarital counselling, it’s an excellent opportunity to learn healthy communication surrounding sex and different needs concerning it.
It’s also where you’ll uncover the underlying reasons behind any physical intimacy-related problems that might be present.
Addressing Hard Topics
There will always be hard topics that need to be discussed in any relationship. Some of these hard topics include family dynamics, religious beliefs, and social life.
In premarital counselling, you’ll learn how to navigate through these difficult conversations, find common ground, and establish a mutually beneficial solution.
Conclusion
In conclusion, premarital counselling is essential in establishing and maintaining strong and stable relationships. Through regular sessions, you’ll learn effective communication, how to acknowledge differences and respect, financial planning, build a healthy physical intimacy, and address hard topics.
By doing so, you’ll establish a strong foundation for a long-lasting and healthy marriage. How Effective is Premarital Counselling?
When it comes to marriage, premarital counselling is an effective way to build a strong foundation and establish healthy communication habits. Let’s delve into the statistics, cost, and potential benefits of counselling for couples before tying the knot.
Statistics on Marital Success Rate
According to the American Psychological Association, around 40-60% of marriages in the U.S end in divorce. That’s a pretty significant number, and it highlights the need for couples to work on their relationships before walking down the aisle.
However, couples who undergo premarital counselling see an improvement in their success rate, with some studies suggesting that counselling can reduce the likelihood of divorce by up to 50%.
Couples Seeking Counselling
Awareness about the benefits of premarital counselling has increased; the percentage of American couples seeking counselling has risen from 19% to 44% over the past two decades. Despite education and awareness, many couples still don’t take the proactive step to seek counselling.
If you’re worried about your relationship, it’s essential to seek help.
Cost of Premarital Counselling
The national average cost for premarital counselling sessions can range from $100 to $200 for one hour and varies based on location and program details. However, many organisations provide services at a more affordable cost or even free of charge.
At Bonobology, couples can benefit from premarital counselling sessions at an affordable cost.
Online Counselling Availability
With the current state of the world, online counselling is a convenient and safe alternative to traditional counselling methods. It enables individuals or couples to attend sessions from anywhere in the world using various platforms such as WhatsApp, Hangouts, or Zoom.
Final Thoughts on Premarital Counselling
It’s vital to take a proactive approach when it comes to your relationship. Addressing worries before they become significant issues is better than waiting for things to escalate.
Premarital counselling is not just for couples who have identified issues or problems; every couple can benefit from counselling to become better versions of themselves as a couple. Relationships are a journey, and premarital counselling can help you and your partner navigate through the ups and downs together.
In conclusion, premarital counselling is a proactive approach that couples can take to establish and maintain strong and healthy relationships. By addressing critical topics such as communication, finances, and physical intimacy, couples can reduce the likelihood of future misunderstandings and conflict.
Statistics have shown that couples who undergo premarital counselling have an improved success rate in their marriages. While the cost of counselling may vary, there are affordable options available and counselling services are now easily accessible online.
In essence, premarital counselling is about becoming better versions of yourselves as a couple and beginning your marital journey on a strong and stable foundation.
