Who needs marriage school? You fall in love, you plan the wedding, you get married, and you figure it out together as you go, right? Well, for some that’s true, but today you’ll find that many people are trying out premarital counseling and marriage education, from engaged couples to those who have been married for some time.
So, what exactly is marriage education? First, I’ll tell you what it’s not. It’s not marriage counseling or a marriage support group. It’s not about dealing with individual couple’s personal issues, problems, or concerns.
It is actual classes and workshops designed to teach every couple important skills that are necessary to help them build strong relationships. Communication and problem solving skills are two important focuses of marriage education. It includes learning to actively listen and learning how to express your own feelings. It also helps people learn to be more open and intimate and to rid themselves of fear of commitment.
Marriage education can benefit any couple, from those who are dating or engaged and those who are newly married but need help adjusting, to those who simply want to improve their marriages by learning more. It can also help those who want to learn better habits and skills to rebuild damaged marriages. Marriage education is also utilized by people who plan to remarry, especially those who have previously been divorced, because they truly want a fresh start.
While marriage counseling can be valuable for some couples, it is often undertaken grudgingly, after problems arise. Instead, marriage education offers couples a chance to learn how to cope with issues and problems together, creating a great opportunity for couples to learn in advance instead of learning through trial and error.
Marriage education is something I will definitely recommend to my own children when the time comes.
*Check back for tips on selecting a marriage education program.