Services
Premarital Counseling in Chicago, IL
You’re engaged! Congratulations! Wedding planning is underway and you’re ready to check the “premarital counseling” box.
Regardless of where you are in your relationship, you understand the importance of addressing relationship priorities and setting boundaries before they become problems. Sex and intimacy, finances, balancing relationships with family and friends, parenting, religion, careers, where you’ll live…. to name a few. It’s time to cover some ground.
Premarital counseling can help you and your partner feel more prepared for the joys and challenges of marriage, moving in together, or big transitions in your relationship.
Common Times to Begin Premarital Counseling
Premarital counseling can help couples face various big life transitions or commitments. Here are a few different relationship stages where counseling can help:
Engagement! You’re engaged to be married. Wedding planning is around the corner and you’re starting to feel the excitement and stress.
Moving in. You’re seriously considering moving in together or getting married. Taking the step of combining two households and moving in together can cause unexpected relationship issues.
Marriage. You recently got married, or have been married for some time, but your schedules finally align and you’re ready to carve out time to talk with a premarital counselor in Chicago about your relationship.
Ready to dig deeper. A religious leader took you through some premarital questions, but you’re looking for a space to continue these discussions in more depth.
Discuss Relationship Expectations Now, Not Later
Your relationship can benefit from making the unspoken, unwritten expectations → explicit. Many worry that if they talk about the fear, concern, or the elephant in the room, those things will come true. This usually doesn’t happen. (And if it does—are you comfortable living that way?) Stuffing fears or uncomfortable feelings down is likely making things harder. Naming these questions can actually release some of the pressure.
Instead, try discussing these expectations and fears now. Before they turn into disappointment when your relationship expectations aren’t met. Sometimes getting these discussions started is scary.
Start at the Beginning with Premarital Counseling in Chicago, IL
Where do you begin?! Premarital counseling can help you get started with possibly difficult discussions. As a premarital counselor, I’ll guide you. You’ll lay your questions and concerns out on the table and collaborate on a plan moving forward. If you and your partner can handle both the difficult AND exciting stuff now, you’ll feel more prepared to sit down together as a team, problem-solve, and adjust anything that feels “off” in the future.
I’ve worked with a lot of couples as they prepare for marriage. I’ve seen them leave premarital counseling in Chicago, IL with more knowledge about themselves and their relationship. They’ve practiced important relationship skills and they know they can come back to therapy any time they need another dose of support.
Relationship Expectations We’ll Cover in Preparation
Relationship expectations
Family and cultural influences
Partner styles and habits
Roles and responsibilities
Relationships with friends and family
Finances, relationship with money, money scripts/stories
Shared decision-making
Children & parenting (if applicable)
Religion & spirituality (if applicable)
Insert topics of choice here: ________________
My Approach to Premarital Counseling with Couples
I’ll ask you to complete some relationship surveys, then we’ll go over your answers together. Session to session, I’ll guide the conversation and ask you questions about important relationship topics to consider as you prepare for commitment. Premarital counseling sessions can be more of a question-answer-discuss…next question! style across a variety of essential relationship topics before we intentionally delve deeper into one specific area.
I’m a Certified Facilitator for Prepare/Enrich, premarital counseling, and enrichment programs. I incorporate worksheets and other resources into premarital counseling sessions to get you actively thinking about relationship expectations. With extensive clinical training in couples therapy and sex therapy with premarital couples, I’m here to guide you as you embark on this next step. You can expect to gain a better understanding of questions, concerns, strengths, and growth areas in your relationship as you approach your wedding.
Begin Premarital Counseling in Chicago, IL
Addressing relationship expectations and setting boundaries in a relationship can start to feel overwhelming. Especially when newly engaged and preparing for marriage. However, this is the perfect time to meet with a premarital counselor. Don’t let these things become relationship issues with the help of premarital counseling. When you’re ready to get started, I’m here to help you work on your relationship. Follow these three simple steps:
Reach out and we can set up a free 15-minute phone consultation.
Schedule your first session with a premarital counselor.
Start exploring relationship expectations, get on the same page, and feel confident in your relationship.
Interested in the other types of therapy I offer?
Deciding to get married can feel exciting and a little scary. You might not know what kind of help you need for your relationship. Premarital counseling is not the only service I provide in my practice. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in relationships and sexual concerns, I also offer individual therapy for relationship issues, setting boundaries, and individual sex therapy. If you are wanting to come with your partner I provide couples therapy, and sex therapy. All of these services are offered online to the residents of Illinois and Michigan.
