PREMARITAL COUNSELING

Are You And Your Partner Ready To Get Married?

 Are you and your partner excited to start your married life together, but worry that your relationship may face obstacles and strains in the future? Have you or your partner been married before and wonder whether your new marriage will face similar struggles? Perhaps one or both of you have children and you are concerned about how you will unite your family. Is wedding stress adding tension to your relationship and ultimately causing you to question the strength of your bond? Have you and your partner avoided talking about major life decisions, such as having children together and long-term career goals? It’s possible that neither of you know who to turn to for marriage guidance. Do you wish you could begin your marriage with a fortified connection, feeling confident that your loving relationship will remain resilient over time?

Getting ready to take the leap into married life can make you and your partner feel both excited and overwhelmed each day. Even though your relationship may be full of love and compassion, you both may struggle with some lingering uncertainties. You may feel preoccupied by the “What Ifs” of the future, such as “What if we lose our spark?” or “What if my partner changes too much?” You may also be juggling numerous demanding responsibilities leading up to your marriage, including wedding planning, family planning, moving and preparing your finances. Undergoing this extra stress, you and your partner may have even stopped prioritizing your relationship, causing you to feel distant from each other. At the end of the day, you may know you and your partner are perfect for each other, but wonder how to ensure that you maintain a strong connection once you are married.

It’s Very Common To Want Relationship Advice Before Marriage

All couples face highs and lows in their relationships. Even when a couple experiences very little conflict, they may still worry that future decisions and obstacles may create new and confusing tension in their partnership. In addition, it’s very common for partners to face their first major disagreements in the time before their wedding. All of the logistics of planning a wedding and joining two families together can take a huge toll on a relationship, especially because this time often leaves partners too busy to spend quality time together.

To add to this stress, a couple preparing to get married may feel additional pressure from their family and community to appear happy and successful all of the time. When these expectations are not met, they may often worry that there is something wrong with their relationship.

The good news is that with the help of a knowledgeable therapist, you and your partner can work together to gain a deeper understanding of your relationship and proactively plan for a fulfilling marriage.

Strengthen Your Bond With Premarital Counseling

During open and engaging premarital counseling sessions at the Relationship Counseling Center of Austin, you and your partner can learn more about your partnership and take the steps needed to prepare for a rewarding, lasting marriage. Your relationship therapist will help the two of you highlight your strengths and identify potential obstacles you may face in married life, ultimately allowing you to move through future conflict in a thoughtful and respectful way.

Throughout pre-marriage counseling sessions, you and your partner will have the opportunity to take part in educational, introspective activities—specifically tailored to your relationship—that can help bring the two of you closer and more aware of each other’s needs. In an honest and understanding environment, you both can reflect on your positive experiences together and outline your desired future. Your therapist can also show you how a positive routine, including daily acts of compassion, can help the two of you maintain a sense of togetherness—even during difficult times.

In order to fortify your connection with your partner and prepare for potential obstacles, your therapist will help you understand how your family histories may impact your current communication style and overall relationship. You both can look back at how your families of origin dealt with conflict and take proactive steps to prevent repeating negative patterns you may have observed as a child.

Other techniques that can bolster your relationship before marriage include positive communication exercises. While you and your partner may rarely argue now, your therapist can teach you ways to slow down, restore calm and actively listen to each other when you face a major disagreement. The two of you may also benefit from at-home activities, such as reading articles and books that can open up a dialogue for further depth and intimacy in your relationship.

The therapists at the Relationship Counseling Center of Austin have been trained in a variety of approaches specifically focused on couples planning to get married, including the Gottman Method, Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) and family systems therapy – all of which can be tailored to help you enhance the closeness, compassion and resilience in your relationship.

You and your partner may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the process of taking your partnership to the next level, but by investing in your futures with counseling, you are setting yourselves up for a resilient lifelong bond.

You and your partner may be interested in premarital counseling, but still have a few questions and concerns…

Why do we need counseling before marriage? Isn’t therapy for couples who are struggling?

Couples therapy is for everyone—not just partners who are facing relationship problems. Unfortunately, studies have shown that couples typically struggle for six years before finally seeking marriage counseling. Even if you and your partner have not faced any major relationship challenges, premarital therapy can be a very effective way for you two to increase intimacy and connection, prepare for major life decisions and confidently move forward into a shared future.

I’m concerned about how much time and money we may need to spend on counseling.

Premarital therapy is often not an extensive, long-term therapy. That said, if you and your partner are interested in doing more in-depth work together, you may choose to work with one of our therapists for a longer period of time. This is entirely up to you. In addition, here at the Relationship Counseling Center, we offer a sliding scale fee to fit your family budget.

Counseling is an invaluable investment in the future of your marriage and in your overall well-being. Not only can our sessions help you fortify your relationship, but by drawing strength from your marriage, you and your partner can also work together to achieve your personal and professional goals.

Is this religious counseling?

Many religious groups will offer counseling before marriage to guide couples according to the tenants of a particular faith. However, the therapy we provide is not religious, although our counselors honor your individual religious and spiritual beliefs in your sessions. You and your partner’s personal beliefs and values determine the focus and direction of your sessions. Your therapist is here to help you prepare for a marriage that will work for you.

Start Your Marriage In A Loving Way

If you and your partner are ready to strengthen your connection and prepare for your married life together, please contact us to schedule a free in-person or phone consultation. We are happy to answer your questions, address your concerns and discuss how premarital counseling can help support your bond.

For easy scheduling, call us at 512-270-4883, or visit our Scheduling Page and complete the form requesting an appointment. An RCC Austin therapist will contact you to schedule your appointment.

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