Are you a newlywed?

Did you just get engaged?

Are you and your partner looking to take your relationship to the next level?

When you’re considering marriage, deciding on your honeymoon or figuring out where you want to live are among the first things you start to plan. Premarital counseling might be last on your list, if it’s there at all. While it’s not an engagement topic that’s very fun or romantic, premarital counseling can set your marriage up to succeed and survive long-term, in spite of the odds.

Premarital counseling can help you and your significant other improve your relationship by helping you develop better communication skills, learn conflict management, uncover your shared core values as well as identify differences that could create future conflict. Working with a therapist, you can discuss expectations with your partner that will help better prepare both of you for marriage.

Some of the topics discussed in Pre-marital counseling are:

• Affection
• Communication
• Compromise & Decision Making
• Desire to have children
• Emotional needs
• Family relationship
• Finances
• Intimacy
• Roles
• Sexual needs/desires
• Values and beliefs

The intimate nature of marriage requires that you talk to your partner about everything, no matter how awkward or uncomfortable. Premarital counseling will help you learn how to be a better listener, and how to make your voice and needs heard in a productive and positive manner.

Premarital counseling will also show you how to handle conflict in your marriage and reduce the criticism, contempt, silent treatment and defensiveness that occurs.

In pre-marital counseling, we will likely bring up topics that you’ve discussed with your partner previously, as well as subjects you hadn’t considered before. This fresh perspective from an objective third party will uncover new details from your partner. This is also an excellent time for us to find unexpected areas where you disagree, and give you the tools to handle possible future conflict.

Do you feel its time take the first steps in building a strong foundation in your relationship?