The Role of Premarital Counseling in Financial Planning for Marriage
Premarital Counseling for Finances
A survey from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) found that nearly three in four couples experience tension in their relationships due to financial decisions. Managing money is a perpetual problem that couples must navigate throughout their relationships. One of the best ways to ensure a strong foundation before marriage is by addressing the role finances will play in your future together.
Premarital counseling helps couples discuss their plans for managing money, along with other important topics to cover before walking down the aisle. Read on to learn how premarital counseling can support couples in planning their financial future together.
Discover Your Financial Values
Your relationship with money is uniquely yours. Shaped by your background, experiences, and perceptions, your feelings about money and how you approach it are likely nuanced and different from your partner's.
When couples argue about money, they’re often actually arguing about the values or ideals underlying their financial decisions.
Before diving into the practicalities of financial planning, it’s important to reflect on your personal relationship with money and how it developed. In premarital therapy, you’ll explore what financial management was like during your upbringing, the messages you learned about money from those around you, and how your relationship with money connects to your self-image and needs.
Once partners identify their values around money, they can begin to understand each other better, offering support and care through challenging and potentially stressful conversations.
Identify How You Manage Money
While understanding your values and relationship with money is essential, it’s equally important to examine how those values impact the way you manage your finances. Marriage involves more than an emotional bond—it also represents a financial commitment to your partner.
Premarital counseling helps couples explore the practical side of financial management. This includes discussing topics like debt, prenuptial agreements, and dreams for future investments. It might feel daunting to talk about these subjects, but it’s crucial to have a realistic understanding of how your partner manages their money now and their aspirations for the future.
Premarital counseling therapists can help facilitate these sensitive conversations, de-escalating any emotions that may arise. This process allows couples to gain clarity and confidence in their shared financial future.
Improve Communication and Conflict Resolution
As you and your partner explore your financial habits and goals, disagreements are likely to arise. In these moments, strong communication and conflict resolution skills are invaluable. Since money is one of the most frequently argued topics in relationships, it’s better to be proactive in developing these skills rather than waiting for conflict to surface.
Working with a premarital counselor equips couples with tools to compromise, actively listen, and express their needs in a way their partner can understand. These facilitated conversations allow couples to experience greater understanding and connection and serve as a model for how to handle conflicts independently in the future.
By improving your communication and conflict resolution skills, you can prevent disagreements over money from escalating into conflicts that harm your relationship.
Premarital Counseling Services Denver
Talking about finances can be difficult for many couples. Working with an Emotionally Focused Therapist at Colorado Therapy Collective can help you navigate these essential conversations before marriage, equip you with tools to help your relationship thrive, and teach you how to manage conflict in ways that promote connection.
Visit our Premarital Counseling specialty page to learn more about how we tailor our approach to help couples build strong, unique partnerships. If you’re ready to start preparing for marriage, schedule a 20-minute consultation with our intake team. We’ll answer your questions and match you with a therapist who will support you every step of the way.
