premarital counseling Chicago
Lay the groundwork for a loving, lasting marriage.
We'll help you enter the next phase of your relationship with confidence.
Are you recently engaged and looking to start your marriage off on the right track? Are you and your partner considering marriage as a next step in your relationship, but need a supportive space to further explore your decision? Are you both on different pages when it comes to marriage and need someone to help you sort through your differences?
Our therapists know how important it is to enter a marriage from a place of confidence and clarity. We help couples have the deep (and important!) conversations about their future, so you both feel prepared for the next exciting phase of your lives together.
Premarital therapy can help with:
BLENDING FAMILIES
EXTENDED FAMILY ISSUES
MONEY PLANNING
SEX AND INTIMACY
BOUNDARIES
STARTING A FAMILY
UNRESOLVED CONFLICT
WEDDING PLANNING STRESS
RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES
COMMUNICATION ISSUES
The Benefits of Pre-Marriage Counseling:
Before
We're newly engaged, but haven't had the big talks that we feel are important for the future of our relationship. We need help navigating through the hard conversations so we can have a successful, loving marriage. Our attempts at having these conversations on our own have caused disagreements that we're not sure how to manage.
After
We feel confident in our ability to have big conversations in our relationship moving forward. We're both on the same page about important parts of our lives, like family planning and finances, and are so excited for our future together. We now feel like we have the skills and a solid foundation to have tough conversations about the future.
Before
We're at a point in our relationship where marriage feels like the next step, but we're not sure if it's the next best step for us. We feel pressured by our family and friends to get married, but because this is such a big decision, we don't want to do something because we "should."
After
After a few sessions, we not feel confident to make choices that work best for our relationship, and no longer feel pressured by outside influence like our family. Our relationship is stronger than ever, and we're incredibly excited for what the future holds for us.
Before
We're both on different pages when it comes to getting married. One of us needs clarity about the future, and the other feels confused about whether or not marriage is the right step. We need a space to talk and gain a deeper understanding of what our future holds for us.
After
Pre marital counseling really helped us decide if getting married was the right step for our relationship. We took the time to gain clarity about the future of our relationship, and we both feel confident about the concerns we brought to therapy and how to navigate through them.
How it works:
Premarital counseling is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the future together. Once you've contacted our office, we will connect you with one of our premarital couples therapists who will help you confidently plan for the next phase of your life. After you connected for your 30 minute phone consultation, you'll schedule ongoing sessions and start working towards your goals as a couple. Your therapist is your biggest support system, helping to navigate next steps as a couple.
Meet our premarital therapists in Chicago, IL
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Michelle Herzog, LMFT, CST
• Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist
• Years in Practice: 12
• Specialty Areas: Mismatched Desire, Pre-Orgasmic Women, Modern Dating, Painful Sex, Infidelity, Sexual Dysfunction, Transition to Parenthood, Dating Anxiety
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Corie Carson, LMFT
• Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Supervisor
• Years in Practice: 7
• Specialty Areas: Mismatched Desire, Sexual Dysfunction, Consensual Non-Monogamy, General Couples Work, Infidelity, ADHD in Relationships, Identity Exploration & LGBTQ+ Care, Divorce & Breakup Recovery
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Emily Gabelman, LMFT
• Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Years in Practice: 6
• Specialty Areas: Sexual Dysfunction & Disorders, Sexual Trauma, Men’s Sexual Health, High Conflict Couples, Pleasure Exploration
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Allison Colaianni, ALMFT
• Credentials: Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Years in Practice: 3
• Specialty Areas: Mismatched Desire, Couples Communication, Sexual Shame, Sexual Dysfunction, Painful Sex, Modern Dating, Consensual Non-Monogamy, BDSM & Kink
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Tony Peters, MFT
• Credentials: Associate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Years in Practice: 2
• Specialty Areas: Mismatched Desire, Men’s Sexual Health, LGBTQIA+ Relationships, Infidelity, Out of Control Sexual Behavior, Relationship Jealousy, Anxiety & Depression, Consensual Non-Monogamy
FAQs about Premarital Counseling
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Couples who attend premarital counseling have a 30% higher chance of relationship success and satisfaction. This means that divorce rates are lower for couples who attend premarital counseling, which makes doing this work completely worth it!
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While premarital counseling will be tailored to your unique relationship, the most common topics we help clients navigate are: money management; boundaries with extended families; sex and intimacy and family planning. We also help couples strengthen their communication skills so they have the tools to have difficult conversations when they arise in the future. Finally, we talk about marriage values, how you two want to show up as married partners to each other, and we'll discuss any relationship agreements that are important to your relationship.
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While premarital counseling has a religions connotation, the work we do with our couples is not rooted in religion. Premarital counseling is customized to each couple's needs, and does not have to include religious themes unless requested.
Get the support you need to lay the foundation for a healthy, happy marriage.
If you're reading this page, then you're on the right path to a better, stronger future together as a couple. Pre marital counseling is an excellent way to set your future marriage up for success, and taking the time to strengthen your relationship is one of the best things you can do for yourselves. If you're ready to schedule an appointment with one of our Chicago premarital counselors, complete our appointment request form and we'll be in touch right away.
Better sex starts with communication.
Download our free Sexual Communication Handbook to access over 200 questions to get you and your partner sharing, connecting, and exploring.
