When you are preparing for a marriage it can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. You may have an idea of what marriage looks like, but in some ways, it is also unknown. You have found the person you love and want to build a life and want to be as intentional as you can be with your preparation. With divorce rates high, you may be looking for ways to set up your relationship for success. This is where I can help.
I am a firm believer that every engaged couple could benefit from premarital therapy. It is so common to spend months, even years planning the perfect wedding, why not spend some time making sure to also prepare for the marriage? I think premarital work can do one of two things: 1. Help you feel more confident in your relationship and the areas that are already strong 2. Strengthen and develop the areas of your relationship that are more difficult.
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I like to think of premarital therapy as a time to understand the kind of culture you're creating for your future marriage. Your relationship culture then guides future decisions, creates processes to manage difficulty when it arises, and sets the tone for clear communications.
Topics often discussed during premarital therapy include:
Attachment styles
Sex
Identification and communication of emotional needs
Household responsibilities
Navigating families
Boundary setting
Differentiation (the balance of closeness and distnace)
Emotional regulation and communication
Healthy communication styles
Future dreams and plans