Do you ever wonder why some couples have better communication skills and intimacy from day one of their marriage, while others seem to crater within the first year? Or why some of your married friends make it through difficult times better than other couples you know?
Most Americans want to be married at some point in their life, and they hope to remain married to the same person. Yet, many relationships don’t endure in the long term.
Preparation is key
Since marriage is one of the most important decisions a person makes in their lifetime, it’s important to approach it with the seriousness it deserves. A successful marriage is hard work that requires preparation for it to be the meaningful and wonderful experience God intended.
It is estimated that ninety-five percent of all adults eventually marry. So, one of the best ways to prepare for a healthy, life-long marriage is to have pre-marital counseling prior to the wedding day.
What to expect in your first pre-marital counseling session
Generally, there is time given to:
- Getting acquainted with your counselor to determine the length and depth of your relationship with your fiancé
- Discussion of couple’s family backgrounds
- Setting goals and understanding how they relate to the marriage relationship
- Discussion of relational issues that may need to be addressed
- Confidentiality explanation of information shared during counseling sessions
- Discussion of the biblical basis for marriage, as well as time for each person to share his/her faith journey.
Homework assignments are made at the end of each session, and information is provided for the couple to complete the online pre-marital inventory. This inventory will be used to determine areas that need special focus during upcoming sessions.
What will be covered in the remaining pre-marital counseling sessions?
- Challenges faced in most marriages
- The love language of each person
- Spirituality
- Roles expectations
- Communication styles
- Marriage expectations
- The DISC Personality Inventory
- Needs of each person
- Intimacy and healthy sexuality
- Conflict management
- Money management
- Thoughts regarding “the ideal mate”
- A thorough discussion of the Prepare/Enrich® Assessment
You will see early in your marriage that pre-marital counseling was the best investment you made for the successful start and future of your relationship.