Premarital Counseling

Premarital Counseling

The moment of proposing or being proposed to is often a blend of exhilaration and joy. The cultural enchantment surrounding the notion of marriage is a force too compelling to resist. We yearn to embrace the idea of "happily ever after," allowing this fantasy to momentarily captivate our imagination as we utter those  – "I do."

Yet, once the spell of the moment is broken, the awareness of potential stumbling blocks on our shared journey becomes more evident. We find ourselves contemplating our differences, the areas of tension within our relationship, subjects we deem too delicate to broach, unspoken assumptions of marriage that might or might not be mutual, our possible aspirations unmet within the partnership, and most significantly, the irrefutable reality that selecting this one path involves renouncing all other possibilities "’til death do us part."

Marriage, marking a substantial life transition, heralds the commencement of a new phase of life. Curiously, the engagement period often unearths unresolved baggage for both partners. The engagement marks the completion of a less committed phase of the relationship. This transition from being a couple to creating a family can rouse emotions and beliefs related to the concept of "family" that we may have carried with us since our own childhood. It might also trigger apprehensions about replicating the mistakes of the past, be they our own or those of our parents. 

Our perceptions of our parents' relationships inadvertently mold our ideas of marriage, which may not necessarily be conducive to the marital happiness we seek. Furthermore, it's common to assume our notions of marriage mirror those of our partner, without candidly checking our hypothesis through open dialogue with our fiancé. The baggage from the past, the anxieties intertwined with unspoken assumptions about matrimony, and the expectations each partner harbors for married life – all warrant careful consideration and open discussion. As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Premarital counseling offers a solid foundation upon which a couple can confidently enter the married phase of their journey. As a psychotherapist, I view premarital counseling as fulfilling several pivotal roles:

1. Releasing Personal Baggage: It's crucial to release the weight of unresolved negative emotions and limiting beliefs, especially those related to relationships and marriage. This proactive measure prevents such baggage from festering and potentially undermining the relationship.

2. Addressing Apprehensions: Open discussions can help navigate personal anxieties and concerns tied to marriage and family life.

3. Aligning Visions: By clarifying mutual ideals, desires, and expectations surrounding marriage and family life, couples can craft a shared vision for their life together.

The overarching objective of premarital counseling is to eliminate the seeds of potential future tension and conflict, cultivating harmony and understanding between partners as they venture forward together.


Location

Availability

Monday:

7:00 pm-10:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:00 pm-10:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 pm-10:00 pm

Thursday:

7:00 pm-10:00 pm

Friday:

10:00 am-8:00 pm

Saturday:

10:00 AM-8:00 PM

Sunday:

Closed