Premarital Counseling

Author: Bertha Argueta

Is  Premarital Counseling Really Necessary?

Not once, but twice premarital counseling prevented me from getting married to the wrong person.  Are you about to get married? Have you ever considered premarital counseling? If so, I would love for you to continue reading this article where you will learn what premarital counseling is all about.

What is Premarital Counseling?

Premarital counseling consists of 8-10 one-hour sessions given by either your pastor or marriage and family therapist. These classes consist of assessments and exercises that will give you an insight into your and your partner’s views regarding, personal beliefs, finances, children, living arrangement, family, strength areas, growth areas and possible blind spots, among other things.

Why is Premarital Counseling Essential?

In premarital counseling you can learn to listen and grow along with your partner. You can catch the blind spots and create conversations that otherwise might not have happened if you had not been exposed to certain questions and topics such as finances and growth areas in either you or your partner or both.

My Story

Before I married my husband, we attended premarital counseling. I was a mess, and my fiancé then knew it. Our pastors walked us though different areas such as finances and planning our future regarding living arrangement, children and more. One of the most important things they did with us was emotional healing. I needed to be healed from past relationships and so did my fiancé.

Before I married the right guy, my now husband, I attended premarital counseling not once, but twice. Once at the age of 23 and then again at 28. During the sessions, each time with each guy we quickly learned that we were not a fit for each other and parted ways.

Was I disappointed? Yes, I was. Am I glad now that I did not marry either one then? Yes, I am. You see, marrying either one would have given me a different future than the one I now have. Marrying any of the two guys would have deprived me from fulfilling my dreams. I am not saying they are bad guys; simply neither one was the right fit for me.

Although at the time it was painful, disappointing, upsetting, and shameful. I can now say that it was part of a plan. I remember asking God with all my being. “God if this relationship is not what you have for me, please guide me in the right direction, take me out of it.” Would you believe that He actually did it? Yes, God directed my path and got me out of the wrong relationships.

How do I Know Premarital Counseling is Right for Me?

You are reading this post and got this far for a reason. There is a desire in your heart for a great future with your future partner, that makes me believe that premarital counseling is something to be considered before you say “I do” for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, till death do us part”.

What’s Next?

1. Find the right facilitator, counselor, or pastor that fits your specific needs.
2. Call them to set up an initial consultation requesting premarital counseling.
3. Get your partner on board, it takes two to tango.
4. Attend all your sessions.
5. Listen, learn, and put into practice everything you are given and learned at your sessions.
6. Say I do with the certainty that no matter what life may bring, you will be prepared to face it together with the love of your life.

Song of Solomon 8:6-7

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.”

Colossians 3:14

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

A little more about me:
Bertha Argueta
Certified Prepare Enrich Facilitator
Marriage and Family Therapist Intern under supervision at My Story Counseling, LLC

To set up an appointment contact me at:
PersonalDevelopmentWithBerthaArgueta@outlook.com

References
Prepare/Enrich: https://www.prepare-enrich.com