Premarital Counseling

Sometimes called premarital education, premarital counseling is intended for couples who are considering becoming engaged or for couples who have already decided to get married and would like to prepare for the road ahead.

Goals of premarital counseling include deciding if engagement is a good choice, informing couples about realities of married life, teaching communication and conflict resolution skills, establishing mutual goals and reducing risk of divorce. Topics covered may include finances, division of labor and household duties, in-laws, sexuality, how many children to have and how to raise them, career goals, religious perspectives, living arrangements and blending families from previous marriages, where applicable.

Programs come in many formats and may include lectures, workshops, homework, group or individual sessions or a combination of these. They may involve personal and relationship inventories, role-playing, communication exercises, and mentoring. Fees range from about $250 to $3000 depending on the type and duration of the counseling.

Many people choose to consult a religious leader for premarital counseling (and may even be required to do so to be married within the church). A pastoral counselor can provide these services and some counselors and psychologists also provide Christian counseling for couples.

Secular or non-religious premarital counseling has also been growing in popularity and is available through independent programs, professional counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists and social workers.

Search therapists now to find pastoral counselors, professional counselors, psychologists and therapists offering premarital counseling near you.