Premarital Counseling

Wedding planning asks couples to think about one day. Premarital counseling invites you to think about the thousands of days that come after.

What is premarital counseling?

Premarital counseling helps couples build a strong foundation before marriage by strengthening communication, exploring shared values, and preparing for future challenges together. This is a guided process to enhance connection and deepen understanding between partners.

I am certified in Prepare/Enrich, which provides a questionnaire that each partner will fill out. Together we will work through your results and have important conversations about:

• relationship dynamics

• commitment

• communication

• conflict resolution

• partner styles & habits

• financial management

• family expectations

• spiritual beliefs

• sexual expectations

• and more!

Why do premarital counseling if we’re already doing well?

Many couples seek premarital counseling not because they’re struggling, but because they want to start their marriage intentionally. The most effective time to strengthen a relationship is often before a crisis occurs.

In the post-engagement bliss, it can be easy to set aside important conversations about things like finances, family planning, parenting philosophies, religious expectations in the relationship/household, roles & responsibilities, and logistics around the house and in the partnership.

Premarital counseling for engaged couples provides a dedicated space to explore these conversations intentionally and thoughtfully before real-life stressors make them more difficult to navigate.

Is premarital counseling only for religious couples?

No! Anyone can benefit from relationship counseling before marriage.

Premarital counseling does have its roots in religious contexts, where religious leaders would meet with couples prior to their wedding to discuss the spiritual obligations of their union and discern individual roles within the marriage and newly shared home. The emphasis in these counseling contexts was specifically for how a marriage will fulfill spiritual and religious requirements.

While I believe that religion is an important topic for a soon-to-be-married couple to discuss, I don’t work through a religious lens. My question is not “will your marriage uphold your religious responsibilities?” Instead I ask, “Do you share the same values about your religious beliefs and responsibilities?”

Who is premarital counseling for?

• Newly engaged couples

• Couples preparing to move in together

• Long-term partners preparing for marriage

• Second marriages

• Non-monogamous partners making long-term commitments

• And anyone looking to align and solidify relationship agreements and goals

Whether you’re newly engaged, preparing for a second marriage, or simply wanting to begin your next chapter with intention, premarital counseling can help you build a stronger foundation for the future you hope to create together.