Counseling Before Marriage? How Couples' Premarital Counseling Sets Up a Successful Marriage

By Caitlin Winkler, PLPC

What is premarital counseling?  You may ask, "If my future spouse and I are in love and ready to get married, why would we need counseling?"

I believe this is a common way of thinking among individuals and couples today.  Counseling is often viewed as a tool to help solve a current problem or struggle, but it is also something that can be used before an obvious issue arises.  

Think of it this way: if you are building a house, what is one of the most important steps?  Engineers and builders would argue laying the foundation is critical.  Why?  Because the foundation is what everything else is built upon.  Without a solid foundation, the house will be weak, it may fall, and it will not last long.  The same is true with marriage.  In our marriages, we often wait until we start to see the walls crumbling before we seek help.  

One preventative, proactive measure to take is premarital counseling.  Yes, you are excited about marriage and do not fear divorce.  But what happens when the storms of life start to blow and your strength is truly tested?  Premarital counseling helps to strengthen your foundation.  It involves thinking, planning, discussing, compromising, and preparing for a future life together, perhaps sharing about topics not even thought about before.  It is designed to be a tool that helps create solid, lasting marriages.

I am excited to offer premarital counseling at Unlimited Potential Counseling in the O'Fallon/Dardenne Prairie area.  Our world needs strong marriages to help build strong families.  This service is offered through a Christian perspective and integrates the importance of faith in the relationship. Please contact me and I will be happy to answer any questions you and your future spouse may have!

Caitlin Winkler is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor at Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center in O'Fallon. Caitlin is under the clinical supervision of Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC (MO #2012026754).

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