Should You Consider Premarital Counseling?Copyright Steven M Cohn, PhD How do you know if premarital counseling is right for you? Consider some of the following reasons as you think about whether its time for you and your fiancée to seek help from a Relationship Specialist. First, there are states that require therapy prior to tying the knot if the individuals are under the age of 18. Be certain to know what the law in your state says about seeing a therapist. Therapy can be helpful to when either member of a couple have been divorced and are seeking to avoid past relationship errors. This can be especially true if you fear that you will have a hard time resolving some of the more common problems that present themselves in significant relationships: sex, money, dividing housework, parenting styles, in-laws. If you or your partner falls into the category of being phobic about commitment, then it might help to speak with a Relationship Specialist about your concerns. Research indicates that abuse has been correlated with higher likelihood of divorce. So, if either of you grew up with a history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and/or childhood abuse, then seeing a Relationship Specialist prior to saying "I do" (and periodic therapy during your relationship) may be essential. Finally, if you are considering entering into a blended-family relationship, premarital counseling might be one of the best first steps to take before you walk down the aisle. The first article in this series is called
premarital counseling question.
|
