Pre-Marriage Counseling Chicago

The decision to partake in premarital counseling is perhaps one of the most important decisions that you and your spouse to be will ever make before officially getting married.

At Couples Counseling Center Chicago, our premarital counseling program is unlike any that you will find in the Midwest or the United States!

This unique program has been featured in a number of outlets, including The Chicago Tribune. 

Pre-Marriage Counseling Chicago

The Chicago pre-marriage program itself was the inspiration of Dr. John Moore, founder of the website, Couples Counseling Chicago,  and was created with the input of long-term couples, relationship specialists and of course, marriage therapists!

The wonderful thing about this premarital counseling marriage program is that it is totally non-religious in nature. Instead, we cover concrete, practical, “real world” issues that all couples should explore prior to tying the knot.

What’s more, our pre-marriage counseling program is universally applicable to all couples, regardless of gender, spiritual background or sexual orientation. We take pride in our non-traditional approach.

Premarital Counseling Topical Areas

There are 14 specific areas covered in the premarital counseling program (aka pre marriage counseling).

1. Motivation for marriage.

2. Expectations for the relationship.

3. Exploration of attachment styles (Love Styles).

4. Assessment of current communication barriers and ways to work through.

5. Identifying role-models for healthy relationships.

6. Establishing boundaries in the relationship designed to foster trust.

7. Exploring healthy support systems in the relationship.

8. Assessing how to best work through conflicts.

9. Responsibilities in the relationship (i.e. finances, house chores, child-rearing)

10. Reviewing the role of our friends and families.

11. Discuss spiritual values and finding common ground.

12. Exploring the role of sex in marriage and increasing intimacy.

13.  Identify and discuss other issues that you feel are important.

14.  Plan out the future

Our Premarital Philosophy

We believe in healthy, stable and loving relationships for all peoples. One of the most powerful ways to demonstrate your love and commitment to another is to ask for their hand in marriage.

And so our philosophy is one education – meaning that we believe it is important that couples learn as much as they can from one another before that all important wedding day and explore specifics issues that are likely to pop up in the relationship.

Guided by this belief, our role in the premarital counseling process is to facilitate and help you move towards a new future.

Chicago Premarital Counseling Benefits

Since 2006, the therapists connected to Couples Counseling Center have been involved with some type of premarital counseling. During these past many years, there have been several universal observations we have made, which we believe are true benefits.

These pre-marriage include:

• Enhanced Communication Skills: Premarital counseling provides a safe and structured environment for couples to learn and practice effective communication skills. This includes active listening, expressing emotions, and resolving conflicts in a healthy and respectful manner. Improved communication lays a strong foundation for a successful and fulfilling marriage.
• Conflict Resolution Strategies: Every relationship encounters conflicts, and learning how to navigate them constructively is crucial. Premarital counseling equips couples with valuable conflict resolution strategies and tools. It helps them understand each other’s needs, find common ground, and work collaboratively towards resolution, strengthening their bond in the process.
• Increased Understanding of Expectations: Premarital counseling encourages couples to openly discuss their expectations and values regarding various aspects of married life, such as finances, careers, children, and household responsibilities. By gaining a deeper understanding of each other’s expectations, couples can proactively address potential areas of conflict and establish realistic and mutually satisfying agreements.
• Strengthened Emotional Bond: Premarital counseling provides an opportunity for couples to explore and strengthen their emotional connection. Through various exercises and discussions, couples can deepen their understanding of each other’s emotional needs, build empathy, and develop trust and intimacy. A strong emotional bond sets the stage for a resilient and fulfilling marriage.
• Tools for Sustaining Long-Term Happiness: Premarital counseling equips couples with valuable tools and strategies to sustain long-term happiness in their marriage. It focuses on fostering friendship, nurturing affection, and cultivating shared goals and aspirations. By learning how to continually invest in their relationship, couples can navigate the challenges that arise over time and experience lasting marital satisfaction.
• Prevention of Future Problems: Premarital counseling is proactive in nature, aiming to prevent future problems by addressing potential issues early on. By exploring topics like family backgrounds, previous relationships, and personal values, couples can identify and work through potential sources of conflict before they become significant challenges. This proactive approach enhances the couple’s ability to maintain a healthy and thriving relationship.
• Development of Realistic Expectations: Media and societal influences often create unrealistic expectations about marriage. Premarital counseling helps couples develop realistic expectations by providing them with a realistic perspective on marriage. It educates couples about the normal ups and downs of marital life, helping them approach challenges with resilience and understanding.
• Awareness of Strengths and Growth Areas: Premarital counseling helps couples gain awareness of their individual strengths and areas for growth. By understanding their strengths, couples can capitalize on them to enhance their relationship. Simultaneously, by identifying areas for growth, couples can actively work towards personal and relational development, fostering a healthier and more satisfying partnership.
• Access to Professional Guidance: Premarital counseling offers couples the opportunity to seek professional guidance from a trained marriage therapist. The therapist can provide expert insights, challenge unhelpful patterns, and guide couples through the counseling process. Having a neutral third party helps create a supportive and non-judgmental space for couples to explore and resolve any concerns or issues.
• Increased Relationship Satisfaction: Ultimately, the goal of premarital counseling is to enhance relationship satisfaction. By investing time and effort in counseling before marriage, couples are more likely to experience higher levels of marital satisfaction, increased happiness, and a stronger foundation for a successful and fulfilling life together.

Remember, every relationship is unique, and the benefits of premarital counseling may vary for each couple. However, the above points highlight some common advantages that many couples can gain from engaging in this important preparation for marriage.

What can you expect from premarital counseling? 

The simple answer is this – greater understanding of your spouse to be. Because we do not follow a religious format, we focus on practical topical points that are purposely infused into each session as a way of minimizing any potential “surprises” after getting married.

When is the right time for premarital Counseling?

In our experience, we have found that couples who start premarital counseling during their engagement and several months before the wedding day experience the maximum benefits from pre-marriage therapy.

We recognize however that some people need to premarital therapy fairly close to the date they have picked to get married for work related reasons.

How do I talk to my fiancé about premarital counseling?

Our suggestion is to be open, transparent and honest about the need for premarital counseling. Over 50% of marriages in the United States somehow end up in divorce court. Premarital counseling is an excellent way to work out potential issues prior to your special day so that you and your fiancé feel more confident about entering into marriage.

On this point, it is important to state that premarital counseling is a wise, healthy and smart choice for couples contemplating official marriage vows. It is a sign of your love for your fiancé and desire for a successful marriage that you are seeking out pre-marriage counseling. There is no shame with wanting to partake in this.

In fact, premarital counseling is something to be supremely proud of!

How Can I learn more about your premarital counseling program?

Specifics on our pre-marriage counseling program can be found on the My Chicago Therapist Website. Here, you will find everything ranging from the cost of the program to how each of the six sessions are structured.

You can also call Couples Counseling Center at 773-598-7797 or send us a note through our contact form.

Premarital Final Thoughts

The fact that you are considering premarital counseling is a positive sign for your relationship. We would very much like to be part of your life journey and help you and your spouse to be position yourselves for one of the most important things that will ever happen in your life – marriage.

Be sure to learn all you can about premarital counseling. Visit our marriage and relationship blog to read articles related to marriage and relationships.

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