(Yes, Even the Happy Ones)
Getting married is one of the most meaningful, and life-changing, decisions you’ll ever make. But as exciting as it is to plan the wedding, pick a venue, and dream about your future together, there’s one thing many couples overlook that can make all the difference: premarital counseling.
Think of it this way: if you were about to climb Mount Everest, would you go without a guide? Probably not. So why step into marriage, a lifelong journey filled with both joy and challenge, without first sitting down with someone who’s helped countless couples navigate it well?
As a therapist who has worked with both thriving and struggling couples, I can tell you: premarital counseling isn’t just about preventing problems. It’s about building a strong foundation before you even hit your first major stressor.
Here are just a few essential things you’ll explore together in premarital counseling:
1. Marriage Is Not Just Dating with a Ring
Even if you’ve lived together before, the shift into marriage changes things, sometimes in ways you don’t expect. Roles, responsibilities, and emotional expectations can evolve quickly. Premarital counseling gives you the chance to talk about what might change, what you hope for, and how to adjust with intention rather than reaction.
2. Money, Sex, and Conflict: Let’s Talk About It
These are the top issues that come up in marriage…and also the topics couples are most hesitant to dive into on their own. In counseling, you’ll talk openly about finances, sexual expectations and histories, family boundaries, and how each of you naturally responds to conflict. It’s not always easy, but it’s deeply valuable.
3. Learn the Tools Before You Need Them
You don’t wait until your car breaks down to learn how to drive it. In the same way, counseling gives you practical communication skills, conflict-resolution tools, and insight into your partner’s emotional wiring before you’re in the thick of stress, parenting, or the day-to-day busyness of life.
4. You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
There are things about your partner (and even yourself) that might not surface until you’re in a different season of life. Things like spending habits, stress outlets and relationship histories. Premarital counseling gives you a safe space to uncover those things now so you’re not blindsided later.
The Bottom Line?
Premarital counseling isn’t about assuming something is wrong. It’s about being wise, proactive, and deeply intentional. If you’re preparing to spend a lifetime with someone, why not invest a few sessions into making that foundation as solid as possible?
Marriage is beautiful, but it’s also hard work. Starting strong doesn’t guarantee a perfect journey, but it sure does help you weather the storms, together.
Sarah Murcko 
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