The Benefits Of Online Premarital Counseling

Modern psychology has led to the development of many unique forms of therapy, including online counseling. As teletherapy has developed over the years, more couples have started turning to this form of treatment for premarital counseling. 

Marriage can be a rewarding and healthy part of your life, representing a significant commitment and a new chapter for you and your partner. Online premarital counseling may be a valuable tool if you and your significant other are looking to create a foundation for a stable and fulfilling marriage. 

What Is Premarital Counseling?

Premarital counseling is a type of therapy that often aims to help spouses-to-be learn more about one another, improve communication, and prepare themselves for life as a married couple. Premarital counseling has several proven benefits for couples, including the following: 

• Improved communication during times of conflict

• Preparedness for future situations that might cause marital stress 

• Outlets for partners to express opinions and emotions without judgment

• The opportunity to set goals and aspirations for the marriage 

• A more profound mutual understanding 

Premarital counseling may allow you and your spouse to be open about concerns to reduce the chance of conflict or marital stress later. A premarital counselor, often a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), is a neutral party who can provide a safe environment for challenging conversations. 

These professionals are trained to guide the conversation without offering direct advice or interjecting solutions. Instead, they offer guidance in reaching agreements or compromise independently. At times, they might offer perspective if they feel a couple may benefit from it or are not reaching the point on their own. 

What Can Online Premarital Counseling Address?

Some of the topics that may be discussed in premarital counseling could include the following:

• Effective communication

• How much time to spend together and apart 

• Plans for children and parenting strategies

• Pets

• Current areas of conflict

• Religion

• Intimacy

• Values and morals

• Household responsibilities

• Past adverse experiences 

• Work and finances

• Individual mental health concerns

• Goals for treatment 

Let your counselor know if you're unsure what to discuss in couples therapy. They may be able to provide open-ended questions to get the conversation flowing. 

How Online Premarital Counseling May Help You

Online premarital counseling can be valuable for couples wanting to ensure they have healthy tools before marriage. You do not need to have specific relationship challenges or conflicts to participate and might use premarital counseling to strengthen your relationship and anticipate areas of concern that may arise in the future. 

A licensed online therapist can empower couples with communication habits and healthy ways to address disagreements if they occur. They often have the experience to identify which topics among married couples might cause discord and help the partners avoid these pitfalls. 

Premarital counseling also allows both partners to explore and learn more about the person they have chosen to build a life with. A potential benefit of online premarital counseling is the opportunity to be matched with a therapist based on your relationship's needs without having to search or be put on a waiting list for months. Often, matching processes take from 24 to 48 hours after signing up.  

The Efficacy Of Online Premarital Counseling 

If you are currently experiencing tension in your relationship, your counselor might offer conflict resolution skills to help you find helpful solutions as a team. Research shows that couples in distress often struggle to solve problems constructively. You can receive direct worksheets and activities to practice with your partner through online counseling.  

Studies also show that premarital counseling is a productive way of improving relationship functioning and can decrease the likelihood of divorce. They found that participants in a premarital intervention experienced an approximately 30% increase in measures of outcome success.  

How Much Does Premarital Counseling Cost?

Online premarital counseling is often more affordable than traditional face-to-face therapy. With online therapy, the therapist may not have to pay for an office, staff, utilities, or similar expenses. Therefore, they may pass the savings on to the couple participating in therapy. The cost of traditional premarital counseling sessions can be between $100 and $200 per session, depending on the location, while online premarital counseling averages around $60 to $90 per session. 

How Long Does Premarital Counseling Last?

The length of premarital counseling could depend on your goals as a couple and the extent of the issues you'd like to address. Depending on your needs, sessions might last from eight to ten weeks or more. If you and your partner find that you'd like to continue working with your therapist, request more sessions. Some couples might continue counseling into their marriage. 

What To Expect During The First Premarital Counseling Session

During your initial premarital counseling assessment, your licensed marriage and family therapist may ask you and your partner a series of questions to get to know you better and establish your goals for therapy. These goals might include topics such as: 

• Conflict resolution 

• Figuring out family relationships

• Improving communication

• Working on your mental health as a couple

• Setting realistic expectations

• Discussing finances

• Sex

• Marriage roles

• Desires for children

The first comprehensive assessment can help your premarital counselor determine areas where you might benefit from change and create a strategic road map or treatment plan for you and your partner. 

How To Find Online Premarital Counseling

An online search for "online premarital counseling" or "couples counseling" can help you get started. However, not all online premarital counseling resources are credible. Try to take your time to find one that provides structure and guidance and only hires licensed, experienced therapists. Many sites encourage clients to leave reviews, and reading through those can give you an idea of whether you have found a trustworthy therapist. 

An online resource that connects you with a mental health professional may help you save time in finding a professional. On many platforms, you might fill out a questionnaire about your goals for therapy and sign up to receive services. You may be matched with a licensed therapist knowledgeable in your specific area of concern based on your answers. 

Counseling Options 

Studies show that online therapy can help couples prepare for marriage, develop an understanding of one another, and better communicate. In a study of couples in premarital partnerships, researchers found that online therapy can increase couples' positive feelings regarding marriage, help them develop better communication skills, and provide an enhanced understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Participants also reported feeling better prepared for marriage and experienced improvements in overall satisfaction in their relationships.

If you and your partner are looking to prepare for marriage, online couples therapy through a platform like ReGain can help. You might also try therapy individually through a platform like BetterHelp. With online therapy, you and your partner can participate in therapy remotely without worrying about the logistics of commuting and meeting at an office. Your therapist can also connect you with valuable resources, such as at-home exercises, which can be utilized immediately after your sessions. 

Takeaway

Marriage is a significant commitment that can bring several changes to the dynamic of a partnership. If these changes are navigated healthily, you may find significant fulfillment. Online premarital counseling is a constructive way of learning more about your partner, anticipating challenges, and preparing for life as a married couple. Connecting with a therapist online can be the first step toward a healthy marriage. Consider reaching out to a therapist for further guidance and to get started. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Below are a few commonly asked questions on the topic of premarital counseling. 

Can You Get Married Without Premarital Counseling?

You can get married without premarital counseling. In-person and online premarital counseling can be an opportunity to address any issues you and your partner may have before marriage, work on your communication, and stock up on essential relationship skills. However, getting married is not a requirement unless you have a religious ceremony that requires you to complete a premarital counseling program or marriage prep class.

Suppose you and your spouse start to experience struggles, stress, or conflict after getting married. In that case, you can reach out for marriage counseling with a licensed family and marriage therapist—premarital counseling is not the only option. 

Can You Do Premarital Counseling Long Distance?

Yes, you can do premarital counseling long distance with online counseling sessions. Like traditional counseling, online therapy creates a safe space for couples to work on their communication skills and conflict-resolution strategies. Platforms like ReGain and BetterHelp allow you to connect with licensed therapists with specialized training in couples counseling or family and relationship therapy from any location with an internet connection and smart device. 

ReGain is considered one of the industry's best online premarital counseling services. Perks of attending an online premarital counseling or online relationship coaching session include:

• Scheduling flexibility for busy couples 

• Unlimited messaging with your therapist

• Live video sessions

• Sessions via text, phone calls, or video chat

• Cost-effectiveness 

What Is Asked During Premarital Counseling?

During your initial premarital counseling assessment, your licensed marriage and family therapist may ask you and your partner a series of questions to get to know you better and establish the goals for therapy. They might ask questions like the following: 

• What do you hope to gain from sessions?

• What therapy approach are you interested in?

• Did one of you initiate coming to couples therapy? 

• How do you feel about counseling? 

• Are there any frequent conflicts you'd like to bring up?

• What are your plans after marriage? 

• What are your concerns about married life? 

• Will you live together, or do you already live together? 

• How do you feel about commitment? 

What Should I Ask My Fiancé Before Marriage?

Getting to know your partner before you get married can be beneficial. If you find out after marriage that you have different core values, it may cause conflict. Premarital counseling can allow couples to discuss those values and questions in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Potentially distressing topics like finances, culture, politics, religion, family dynamics, and children may be discussed in therapy. 

To get started, consider exploring the following questions with your partner before marriage:

• Do you want kids? How many?

• Will you be willing to attend couples therapy if we're having relationship issues?

• What do you think is the best way to handle disagreements as a couple?

• What's more important to you, work or family?

• How important are religious beliefs to you?

• How important is sex to you?

• How involved would you like our families to be in our marriage?

• Where do you see us ten years from now?