When most people think about couples counseling, they see it as a tool to
navigate struggling relationships and marriages. Many people wait until the
burden of their marital issues becomes too heavy to seek guidance and
support.
When it comes to our physical health, most people are familiar
with the concept of preventative care. We attend regular check-ups with our
doctors, practice good nutrition, and overall try to keep our bodies healthy
in an effort to minimize the possible risk of harm or illness. The same
concept of preventative care can be applied in romantic relationships.
Why wait until your ship is sinking to call for help when you can reinforce it along
the way?
Premarital counseling is a great tool to help you and your partner build a
strong foundation for your relationship. It allows you to work on the skills
necessary for a healthy relationship as well as provide you an opportunity
to address issues before they become distressing. Research supports
premarital counseling, showing that “couples who receive premarital
counseling have a thirty percent lower divorce rate than couples who do not
receive any” (Scott Stanley, The Marriage Project).
When couples engage in premarital counseling, they are establishing a positive connection with asking for help, and are more likely to seek and accept help with their
relationship further down the road.
Premarital counseling is beneficial in:
Improving communication skills.
Setting realistic expectations for the relationship and the future.
Providing an opportunity to address common issues.
Allowing partners to learn new things about each other and themselves.
Improving conflict management skills.
Discussing key topics in the relationship ex. Finances, religion, children, etc.
Instead of using therapy as a last resort when you’re nearing the end of
your marriage, start building a healthy and strong foundation through
premarital counseling.(This article was contributed by UCF Clinical Psychology student, Mileydy Morales)
