premarital Counseling
Premarital Counseling in Austin
Building a strong foundation before getting married is one of the greatest things you and your partner can do. Even if you feel your relationship is strong and doesn’t need improvement, every couple has blind spots. Moreover, virtually everyone — and every couple — can learn how to better communicate. Our approach to premarital counseling highlights both the strengths in your relationship, and areas with exciting opportunities to further improve your partnership. After all, the peace of mind you gain from knowing you’re set up for success is incredibly valuable. Because every couple requires a tailored approach, it’s important to find the right counselor for you. We offer free consultations for premarital counseling in Austin and throughout Texas; click below to schedule yours!
Benefits of Premarital Counseling
Better intimacy
When you first start dating or get married, your sex life will most likely feel fun and exciting! However, communication about sex can feel uncomfortable and many people aren’t equipped to discuss their needs in beneficial ways. Varying sex drives, fears of rejection, and lack of healthy communication about intimacy can create anxiety and sex avoidance. Online premarital counseling will enable you to better learn your partner’s sex drive and what intimacy looks like to them. This knowledge will empower you to discuss any discrepancies in a way that won’t cause divisiveness between you. Although your sex life should be but one component of your marriage, it’s effects can be wide-ranging.
future planning
It’s crucial that you and your partner agree upon what you want your future to look like. For example, if one partner wants kids and the other partner doesn’t, if could turn into a problematic issue down the road. Sometimes we don’t think about these things at the beginning of a relationship, since it doesn’t seem relevant at the time. Online premarital counseling is an opportunity to learn more about how your partner sees their future. In turn, this enables you to realign and compromise so there are no big surprises in the future. Together, we will talk about all things future planning, and address even the small things that you might not think to have a conversation about on your own.
An accepting space to address concerns
Your sessions are tailored to you and your partner’s needs, based on the initial assessment we will complete in your first online premarital counseling session. There is never any judgment allowed in sessions, which you can consider a 50-minute block dedicated to you both feeling fully heard, validated, and accepted. If you think about it, there aren’t many other places where we get that, and if you lead a busy life, it might be hard to find the time to nurture your relationship in this way as often as you should. Counseling creates the opportunity for you both to be fully present with one another and fully supported in your needs.
Mediation for ongoing relationship issues
If you seem to be having the same problems over and over again and do not feel like the issues are ever being resolved, nipping them in the bud before getting married will set you up for success. We are often blind to our own patterns. Virtual premarital counseling allows you and your partner to have an outside perspective on your ongoing patterns so you can both clearly see what is going on, and how you can work together as a team to develop healthier patterns of interaction that will lead to beneficial conversations that do not devolve into heated arguments where you both feel frustrated and unheard.
Better communication patterns
I will teach you and your partner how to use non-violent communication. This entails both partners learning how to communicate any concerns or disagreements in a way that will be well received. Many people view disagreements and arguing as a symptom that something is wrong in a relationship. In fact, disagreements should be seen as opportunities to learn and grow. It all depends on how you communicate. Did you know that when you’re feeling frustrated, angry, defensive, and anxious your IQ drops 30 points? You also no longer operate from the rational part of your brain and your fight or flight response kicks in. This can lead to escalation and additional tension. Using nonviolent communication will help you avoid this pattern in favor of those more conducive to harmony.
Foundational relationship support
Premarital counseling allows you to create a strong relationship foundation to build on. Most notably, this foundation will encourage you to prioritize best supporting one another at all times. After all, many people lack the experience needed to achieve this for many reasons. For example, imagine you came from a home where only unhealthy relationship patterns were modeled for you. You might not have the best blueprint for a healthy relationship if this is the case! These toxic patterns might look like “love” to you, though in reality they only make your relationship more difficult. Online premarital counseling helps you create that blueprint together so you can create a relationship in which you both remember your primary goal is to make each other’s lives more enjoyable!
Online Premarital Counseling
Although it seems counterintuitive, times your relationship is going well are often best to discuss topics that might feel heavy. This is because it’s easier to understand why your relationship is going well to begin with during these times. This added perspective will allow you to hold onto that recipe for success for years to come. Even then, every couple has specific patterns they perpetuate in their relationship that cause friction. Premarital counseling can help you rewire that pattern to promote a long-lasting, healthy relationship. This ensures that the small issues do not eventually erode your passion and love for one another. Click below to schedule a free consultation is you’re seeking online premarital counseling in Austin or elsewhere in Texas!
WHAT IS PREMARITAL COUNSELING?
Premarital counseling involves meeting with a counselor to align on many important aspects and challenges that could arise during marriage. The goal is to prepare couples to handle these challenges together in a manner that will preserve and enhance their marriage.
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL WE NEED?
Premarital counseling typically lasts 8-10 weeks and is most effective within a few months of the wedding date. This can vary based on many factors including the health of the relationship, any unique challenges a couple might face and the circumstances around the wedding.
where do you offer services?
While I primarily see clients for premarital counseling in Austin, we’re licensed to work with clients all throughout Texas. Online premarital counseling has become quite common and has proven to be just as effective as in-person.
