Ken Marlborough asked: Pre-marriage counseling is a psychological counseling given to prospective wives and husbands before marriage. It plays an important role in building healthy marriages. Many marriage studies and researches have shown that pre-marriage counseling helps reduce the possibility of divorce. Couples who attend pre-marriage counseling classes are able to better overcome challenges and difficulties. Pre-marriage counseling sessions create an awareness of marital issues and problems that might occur in marital relationship. Pre-marriage counseling also assists people in determining if they are fully ready for marriage. Counseling sessions range from two or more meetings to relatively long discussions.
Religious counselors commonly give pre-marriage counseling. Pastoral counselors provide spiritual as well as psychological resources to improve communication among couples. Pastoral pre-marriage counseling programs are designed to assist the couple in building a biblical understanding and foundation for their married life.
Religious institutions, colleges and other educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and professional marriage counselors offer pre-marriage counseling courses. Counseling courses generally cover topics such as identifying strength and growth areas, developing conflict resolution skills, intimacy and sexuality issues, values and beliefs, setting up family goals, personality types, family origin issues, role relationships, communication skills, marriage expectations, children and parenting issues, and, the most important of all, financial issues. In addition to the above, pre-marriage counseling courses share group experiences, and encourage reading and homework activities. These activities help couples build a solid foundation for their life. Pre-marriage counseling programs are also offered online. A number of online pre-marriage counseling programs present a wedding information packet to the couple in the beginning.
Before choosing a pre-marriage counselor, check his certification, educational background, professional associations, and training. Also, check whether he has experience with the job, because that can be an important factor.
