COMPASS FAMILY COUNSELING 1001 16th St Suite 155 Denver, CO 80265 Phone: 720-897-7151
When the word “counseling” is involved, most people think there is something wrong that needs fixing. That is not necessarily true. On the contrary, counseling prevents potential conflicts and strengthens the bond between family members and budding couples. Couples who are about to tie the knot even undergo pre-marital counseling. A study shows that pre-marital counseling makes marriages stronger by 30% compared to those who did not go through with it. There are many reasons pre-marital counseling is necessary before couples take their vows: Reconciling differences Again, this does not mean that something is wrong with the couple who undergo counseling. Individual differences cause people to have different reactions when faced with a situation. Different issues may await couples who do not know how to work together despite their differences. Pre-marital counseling prevents this issue by exploring each couple’s attitudes, values or beliefs that may cause conflict after marriage. Dispelling fears Marriage can be a scary prospect even for the most devoted couples. Some get cold feet before they tie the knot. Those with long-term commitment issues think of marriage as a life sentence. After all, there are times when love is not enough to keep people together. In counseling, couples face those pre-marital fears and find ways to counter them.
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Setting expectations Pre-marital counseling also prepares couples on what to expect after marriage. Marriage is not always smooth sailing. Couples can lay down their needs and wants while the counselor helps them to reach a compromise. They can discuss how many kids they want, when they want it, among other things.
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Preparing for marriage “humps� How will couples handle troubles when they come? Counselors prepare them by bringing to light common family problems and finding solutions for those. Couples can make their marriage work if they are committed to staying together despite what happens later. Pre-marital counselors strive to help couples prepare for this lifelong commitment.
Sources: http://familycounselingdenverco.com/ http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20030404/premarital-counseling-builds-better-union http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/22/pre-marital-counseling_n_4784568.html