The decision to get married is one of the most important decisions a couple can make. Preparing for a successful marriage can include developing a deeper understanding of relationships. Premarital counseling is intended as a beginning exploration of issues couples face in the early phases of marriage (and in the preparation for marriage).

Premarital counseling typically lasts between 6 to 10 weeks. Topic may include:

• Communication skills.
• Anxieties and fears about being married.
• The complexities of sharing a life.
• Losing vs. negotiating one’s independence.
• Family of origin issues.
• Dependency and Inter-dependency.
• The problems of idealization, and the reality of waking up with bad breath.
• Ways in which each person’s history comes into play.
• Ways in which each partner’s parents’ relationship may affect their experience in the current relationship.
• The importance of patience and forgiveness.