Premarital Therapy: How to Prepare for Married Life

If you and your partner are engaged, you are probably thinking about how you can get this right. After all, you want this to work out! You want to prepare as effectively as possible for married life, but it’s hard to know what that means. Thankfully, premarital counseling can help. 

Today, you will learn about a few factors to consider as you and your future spouse prepare for your life together as a married couple. Then, you will learn how premarital therapy can help you as you prepare for this new adventure together. 

Your New Life Together

Your engagement is an exciting time! You and your partner are planning wedding festivities and creating shared plans for the future. But have you prepared for the exciting, and sometimes challenging, changes that will come with married life? 

Getting married might not seem like a huge deal, especially if you have been dating for a while or living together. But, it’s not abnormal to come face-to-face with big changes after you tie the knot. (Related article: Build a Sound Relationship House in Couples Therapy). 

Adjusting to Marriage

The good news is that you are not alone! All couples will experience some similar challenges as you begin to experience the “coupling” stage of your life; where you and your partner work to build your shared world (source). Some of those challenges include placing healthy boundaries between you and your families and learning how you will problem solve together as a unit. As you work through these challenges together, your marriage relationship will strengthen and stabilize.

Ways to Prepare for the Next Step

So, how can you be adequately ready for this new shared life? Talking with your spouse about your expectations will go a long way. Here are some themes you might consider exploring together in preparation for your married life together:

Understanding Family Expectations and Boundaries

One major adjustment in married life will be balancing your relationships with your family members and your relationship with your spouse. Depending on the standards for your own families of origin, you may find that once you are married, navigating how much time to spend with your family members and when to see family may become a little bit tricky. 

That’s why having a curious and open minded conversation with your fiance about your expectations and hopes for your family relationships will look after the wedding. Additionally, you can discuss how you anticipate spending holidays and important events. 

Accepting Differences

Another topic that can be helpful to address during your engagement are your differences. That might sound odd, considering the things you have in common likely played a big part in your relationship existing in the first place. But, in the excitement of a relationship and engagement, it can be very easy to overlook or ignore your differences, even when they begin to cause conflict and tension. 

For this reason, it can be helpful to not only acknowledge your differences, but begin to discuss how you will navigate them in a way that is healthy and works for your unique circumstances and needs.

Premarital Therapy Can Help, Too

You shouldn’t have to navigate this process on your own. In fact, premarital therapy can be a perfect place to explore these themes in a way that is productive and emotionally safe. If you’re ready to get started, schedule premarital therapy today in Orem, South Jordan, or Spanish Fork. 

Written by Lauren Adkins