Premarital counselling; some topics to discuss (final)

Premarital counselling is a wedding gift to yourself

 Your perceptions and expectations regarding money matters.

Work out a system for financial review and accountability. Talk about your money histories honestly and share current circumstances openly. Take a look at the salary differential between you and your feelings about it. Also, look at your expectations regarding bread-winning and lifestyle as your family grows. Seriously consider how bills, personal and combined debt, credit, taxes, and savings will be managed.

Your home life and living arrangements.

Discuss how you imagine your everyday life together. Will you live near family or do you hope to make a life elsewhere? Discuss whether home ownership or living in certain socio-economic locations are important to you. Is the goal to recreate the lifestyle you had as children or to build an entirely different home life? Consider too, how you might expect the needs of your aging parents to factor into your life together.

Your plan for resolving conflict productively.

Merging your lives will undoubtedly lead to a measure of conflict initially and throughout your life together. It is crucial to commit to handling disagreements and your relationship before lingering ill-will or contempt creep in. Counselling will help you recognise and manage points of conflict and ineffective communication patterns early. Discuss how you will “fight” with more tolerance and less resentment.

Premarital counselling is a perpetual wedding gift you give yourselves. When you see how beneficial premarital counselling can be to your relationship early on, you may feel more comfortable seeking help should you experience rough seasons later on in your marriage. Premarital counselling is a wise, proactive way to insure your love.

Source: www.drduegertherapy.com