When planning a wedding, the air is abuzz with excitement. The focus is geared toward dresses and tresses, venues and menus.
And yet… At this point, we all know the statistics: in the USA, the likelihood of getting a divorce is between 40 and 50 percent. And that’s with first marriages. For second and third marriages, it’s much, much worse.
No one would jump out of a plane and attempt to skydive with stats like those. Yet more and more people jump into marriage with what can only be described as blind faith.
If only there was something you could do to give your marriage a better chance. You’d do it, right? Especially knowing that nobody gets married with the intention of getting a divorce.
Well thankfully, there is. Everyone who’s about to get married needs to know, premarital counseling significantly decreases divorce rates.
How? Let’s take a look.
Premarital Counseling Teaches You How to Communicate
At this point, everybody’s heard that communication is key to a healthy, enjoyable relationship.
But there’s a little more to it than that. You need to communicate effectively. This is one of the skills premarital counseling—and counseling in general—helps you ace.
Effective communication means honest communication. It means being vulnerable sometimes. It means explaining how you really feel, instead of pretending everything’s fine.
It means not succumbing to the temptation of heated emotions.
It involves discussing, understanding, and explaining why something makes you feel however it is you’re feeling.
Effective communication involves introspection and the ability to empathize. It means learning that when it comes to feelings, we’re not all wired the same way. Thus, the only way to bridge the gap between different experiences and perspectives is through clear and honest communication.
Premarital Counseling Helps Ensure You’re on the Same Page
During premarital counseling, couples are able to voice their expectations instead of just assuming their partner feels the same way. It saves them from panicking when they discover (usually a few years after walking down the aisle) that their partner has a totally different idea of how things should go.
In cases where partners have a differing perspective, premarital counseling helps coach them through the process of compromise. They learn how to have challenging discussions without erupting into anger or sweeping things under the rug, and how to resolve differences.
From household duties to starting a family. From sex to finances. The counselor helps prepare the couple for some of the barriers and hot topics that commonly lead to divorce.
Premarital Counseling Sets You Up for Additional Support if Needed
Often, couples who aren’t familiar with marriage counseling wait so long to get help, that by the time they do, the relationship is damaged beyond repair.
Premarital counseling not only lets you establish the baseline for your relationship through examining how you want to feel—how you want to treat one another, and what your goals as a couple are—it also makes it easier to get help when you need it.
The barriers of not knowing what to expect—combined with fear and all the other reasons couples hold off on seeking assistance with their relationship—don’t apply, since they’re already familiar with couples counseling.
Premarital Counseling Decreases Divorce Rate
A lot goes into planning a wedding and you may be hesitant to add yet another thing. However, studies show that premarital counseling decreases divorce rate by over 30%. This is great news, especially if you plan to have a family.
Set yourself and your marriage up for success and schedule premarital counseling.
If you’re a Northern California resident, we’d love to congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials, and help you get started off on the right foot. We’re located in Fair Oaks and Roseville, and offer couples counseling at both locations. Feel free to call or text anytime with questions.
Begin Premarital Counseling in the Sacramento Area:
You want your marriage to last forever, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, till death do you part. So why not invest in your future and get premarital counseling? Our therapists would love to help you build a solid foundation for a healthy relationship at our counseling centers in Fair Oaks, CA, Roseville, CA or during online therapy. To get started, follow these steps:
- Reach out to the Relationship Therapy Center. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn more about in-person or online premarital counseling.
- Make an appointment to meet with one of our skilled couples counselors.
- Begin counseling and create a bond with your partner that will last the test of time.
Other Services offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:
In addition to premarital counseling, Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples services include: Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Our individual therapy services include, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, and individual relationship counseling. Our therapists offer online counseling in California to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Please reach out to our Sacramento area therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you or your loved ones heal and grow.