{"id":3506,"date":"2014-09-16T00:15:40","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T00:15:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chappelltherapy.com\/?p=3506"},"modified":"2014-09-16T00:18:44","modified_gmt":"2014-09-16T00:18:44","slug":"premarital-counseling-starting-right-foot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/chappelltherapy.com\/premarital-counseling-starting-right-foot\/","title":{"rendered":"Premarital Counseling \u2013 Starting Off on The Right Foot!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Start<\/a>Premarital Counseling \u2013 Starting Off on The Right Foot!<\/h1>\n

Start your marriage off strong<\/h2>\n

What a fun journey it is that leads us to marriage \u2013 the spark of interest at that first meeting; the marvel of discovering someone who shares your beliefs, interests, and sense of humor; the joy of reconnecting after you\u2019ve been apart (no matter how long); the breathtaking leap into planning a future together. Then comes the frantic busyness of planning the celebration of a lifetime.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise that a lot of couples skip or skimp on perhaps the most important step in the dance of togetherness: premarital counseling. Most religious institutions encourage couples to participate in premarital counseling, and some governmental entities are joining in; for example, extending the time required to get a license for couples who haven\u2019t had counseling or giving a break on the cost of getting a marriage license for those who have. Two statistics support those efforts: 50 percent of marriages end in divorce in this country, and a compilation of 23 studies of premarital counseling shows couples who participate in premarital counseling report their marriages are 30 percent stronger as a result.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course such counseling varies widely, depending on the counselor and the couple\u2019s interests, but in general you can expect some of these exercises:<\/p>\n