Take A Pre-Marital Course For A Stronger Marriage
When you and your partner decided to get married, you probably thought you were perfect for each other, right? You probably assume you will be together forever, and you are over-the-moon about your engagement. But have you ever talked about the important things that you want for your life? Have you talked about career aspirations, children, household needs, and everything else that will be important for your future? If you have, that's great, but you may want to make sure you are truly prepared, and that is where a pre-marital course can be a great option.
What is a pre-marital course?
A pre-marital course is a way for you and your partner to come together and find out even more about each other. This type of course helps you evaluate your understanding of each other and how you react to specific situations that are likely to come up throughout a marriage. These could be situations in your household, dealing with work problems, or related to having children. An online premarital course helps you and your partner learn all the important things about each other which may or may not cause conflict once you are married.
Pre-marital counseling is so important that if you're planning to get married in a church, sometimes it is mandatory. You may have to complete several sessions with the priest or another practitioner before they let you get married in that particular place of worship. Even if they do not make it mandatory, pre-marital classes may be a good idea anyway.
Everyone has conflict in their relationship, no matter how perfect you are for each other. No couple agrees on everything. It is the way you handle your disagreements that makes the difference in whether your relationship will work or not. Learning how to deal with disagreements in a healthy way is an essential part of pre-marital counseling, and this can help you and your partner feel more prepared for what comes next, no matter what it is.
Why you might want to take a pre-marital course
You may want to take a course like this because it can help you and your partner understand each other better. Sure, you say you both want children, but how do you feel about discipline? You understand that your partner's job is important to them, but did you know that they would be willing to move out of the state to accommodate that job? Talking about things like this can help prepare you for your future together.
What is also important is talking about yourself and what you expect in the relationship. This is extremely important as well, so you can find out if the two of you are compatible with each other. If you aren't, it will be a lot better to find out before you get married than to find out once you have gotten married and perhaps feel as if you are stuck. By going through pre-marital counseling or courses, you can find out more about your compatibility and get off to a better start.
Getting to know each other better is just the first step, though. You cannot predict everything that may go wrong in your marriage, but you and your partner can be more prepared by considering various scenarios and how they might be handled. For example, you may not be able to predict that you or your partner will lose their job and have trouble finding another one, but you can prepare for the turmoil that this problem may cause.
You may not have realized all that you consider important for your impeding marriage before sitting down in a pre-marital course or counseling. A professional will have thought of all the situations that might crop up in a marriage, and chances are good some of them will be things that never crossed your mind.
Pre-marital courses can save you money
Think of all the time and money that you are going to spend on your wedding. The dress, cake, food, flowers, photographer, honeymoon, and so on. We are talking thousands of dollars. It may take you years to plan and only lasts one day! But many people balk at spending some of that money on pre-marital courses. Why, when it could save you a ton of money you might spend on a divorce if your marriage doesn't work? Spending just a few dollars today could save you thousands in the future. And it sure takes a lot less time. You can do it on your own time, whenever you want, without an appointment if you choose online pre-marital courses.
Pre-marital courses online versus traditional
It costs about $150 to $250 per hour for a traditional face-to-face counselor, but one online option, Regain, is only $60 to $90 per week. That includes all messages, chatting, phone communications, instant messaging, emails, video, etc. That is a big difference. Why is it cheaper? Because it costs the counselors much less to perform online counseling. They don't have to worry about office costs or the costs of a commute.
When you sign up with Regain, you and your therapist will get a special "room" in which you can communicate with each other. It is safe. Your "room" is open and available all the time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on holidays. Using your electronic device, such as a smartphone, computer, or tablet, you can contact your therapist from anywhere at any time. Alternatively, you can speak with your therapist via phone or video call, if you want to have a more direct conversation.
Takeaway
If you're interested in some pre-marital courses or counseling, rest assured that they can help you immensely as you begin your marriage.
Getting married is a big step. Learning all that you can about each other before you take that step can ensure that you're stepping onto solid ground and have a much better chance of a happy, healthy life together.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is a marriage course compulsory?
Typically, taking a pre-marital course or receiving a pre-marital education is not compulsory, meaning that it is not required. However, getting a pre-marital education, going to pre-marital counseling, or both, has helped many couples build a strong marriage. Getting a powerful pre-marital education can help you build a solid foundation for a happy, healthy, lasting marriage. Note that while it’s not generally compulsory to take a marriage course, one exception is that some religious institutions do require you to take a marriage course to get married in the building. A common example of this is Pre-Cana, which is attended by couples who plan to get married in a Catholic church.
What is a pre-marital certificate?
A pre-marital certificate is something that couples receive at the end of pre-marital education. When couples get a pre-marital education, they learn to build a strong marriage by gaining communication skills, establishing shared goals, conflict resolution skills, and more. Upon completing a pre-marital course, you’ll get a certificate to show that you finished the course.
How much is a pre-marriage course?
Taking pre-marital education courses to build a strong marriage is something that will vary in terms of cost. If there is a specific course you’re interested in, make sure to check on the cost. Most pre-marital education courses are cost-effective, generally coming in at well under $500.00. You can take pre-marital courses online or in your local area. Some states have monetary incentives meant to encourage couples to engage in pre-marital preparation courses. These states include, but aren’t limited to, Texas, Oklahoma, and Florida. To learn more information about the specifics of incentives in your area, check on the incentive amounts offered by your state and the requirements to receive incentives for attending pre-marital education.
Can you do pre-marital counseling online?
Yes! You can do pre-marital counseling online through a website like ReGain, or you can find a counselor in your local neighborhood who offers remote sessions.
What questions do they ask in pre-marital counseling?
In pre-marital counseling, your counselor or therapist will ask questions that will help you build a strong marriage and work through any potential differences you may have before you get married. Common questions asked in pre-marital counseling may include those related to family (Do your families get along? If not, how will you navigate that?), family planning (for example, you may discuss if you’re on the same page in terms of if you do or do not want children), personal habits, shared goals, communication, finances, and your overall relationship dynamic. Here are some examples of questions that you may be asked in pre-marital counseling:
- How do you handle conflict?
- How do you plan to make decisions together?
- Do you want kids? Are you on the same page when it comes to having a family?
- Are you able to talk about money together? Are you on the same page when it comes to finances?
- What do you think your married life will be like? Where do you see yourselves in the future?
- Are you able to talk about intimacy with one another?
The questions you ask in pre-marital counseling are just as significant as the questions you and your partner are asked. If there is anything you would like to ask or discuss in pre-marital counseling, do not hold back. Pre-marital counseling is there to help you build a strong marriage, and anything important to you must be on the table.
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