Premarital Counseling in Indianapolis
Congratulations, you’re engaged. Now what?
Beyond the wedding day
Wedding planning covers one day. Marriage covers the rest.
You might find yourselves building Pinterest boards and hunting for the perfect venue. From the flowers to the dress there are so many decisions, and somewhere in the middle you’re picturing the beautiful life the two of you will share, for better or worse.
Then comes the question most wedding checklists skip: what happens when the “worse” shows up? Difficult conversations, conflict and in-laws are part of married life, and real life starts right after the honeymoon.
On the planning list
- The venue and the guest list.
- The flowers, the dress and the music.
- The Pinterest board.
- The budget spreadsheet.
Waiting after the honeymoon
- Hard conversations about money, sex and family.
- Conflict, and how each of you handles it.
- In-laws, holidays and boundaries.
- Who does what in a shared home.
Here’s the good news: you can take steps now to build a thriving marriage for decades to come. That’s what premarital counseling is for.
How it helps
Here’s how premarital counseling benefits your relationship.
Stronger communication
When you start your marriage with strong, effective communication skills, you can better understand and appreciate your partner’s beliefs, values, expectations, motivations and priorities.
Realistic expectations
Every relationship has highs and lows. Premarital counseling helps you set realistic expectations and gives you the tools you need when difficulties arise.
Conflict skills
Every healthy relationship has disagreements. You’ll gain insight and practical tools for handling yours in a healthy way, before the first big fight about the thermostat.
What we talk about
The conversations worth having before the wedding.
Every couple’s list looks different, based on your strengths and where you want to grow. These are the topics that come up most. Want a place to start tonight? Try our 82 premarital counseling questions.
Money
Spending, saving, debt and who handles what, so the first big money talk isn’t also the first big money fight.
Values, faith and culture
The beliefs and traditions you each carry and the values you want your home built around. Faith is welcome in the room.
Roles and the home
Who does what, how decisions get made and what each of you expects marriage to look like day to day.
Children and the future
Whether and when to have kids, how you each want to parent, and what you’re planning for the years ahead.
Family and in-laws
Boundaries, holidays and how to stay a team when two families have opinions.
Communication and conflict
How each of you handles stress and disagreement, the unhealthy patterns that can quietly take over, and healthier ones to practice.
What to expect
Simple to start, built around the two of you.
No homework dump and no script. Your sessions follow your strengths and the topics that matter most to you.
A free 15-minute call
Tell Jenny what’s on your mind and ask your questions. No pressure, no prep, and one of you can make the call.
Your first session
A 55-minute session together to talk about your strengths, your story as a couple and what you want from premarital counseling.
The conversations that matter
Sessions are built around your topics, with practice on real issues instead of a pretend problem.
Tools you keep using
You leave knowing how to talk through the hard stuff, and when to ask for help early.
Your premarital counselor
Meet Jenny Staats, LMSW.
Jenny especially enjoys working with premarital couples, and with couples who want to communicate more effectively, understand recurring relationship patterns, navigate conflict and build a stronger foundation together.
She is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from Indiana University, and she’s EMDR trained. She sees clients in person in Broad Ripple and online.
- LMSW
- Premarital counseling
- Couples communication
- EMDR trained
What the research says
Honest about what premarital education can and can’t do.
Researchers mostly study premarital education programs, which aren’t identical to counseling. Treat these as the best evidence available, not a guarantee.
Communication skills improve
A meta-analysis of 117 studies of relationship education found gains in relationship quality and communication skills in the experimental studies, with communication improving somewhat more.
Hawkins, Blanchard, Baldwin & Fawcett (2008), Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 723–734.
Satisfaction results are mixed
A meta-analysis of 47 premarital education studies found that communication improved, especially when observers measured it, but no clear gain in relationship satisfaction. Few studies followed couples past the early years of marriage, and the authors called the results mixed and modest.
Fawcett, Hawkins, Blanchard & Carroll (2010), Family Relations, 59, 232–239.
Couples ask for help earlier
In a study of 431 newlywed couples in low-income neighborhoods, spouses who considered therapy were more likely to follow through if they’d had premarital education, and couples who did attend sought it earlier.
Williamson, Hammett, Ross, Karney & Bradbury (2018), Journal of Family Psychology, 32(2), 276–281.
What that adds up to: premarital counseling isn’t a guarantee. It’s a head start on communication and a habit of asking for help early, both worth having before the wedding.
Premarital counseling in Indianapolis, Indiana
In person in Broad Ripple
6229 Indianola Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220Couples come from Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Brownsburg and across Indianapolis.
Get directions →Online in Indiana and Florida
For people located in Indiana or Florida, with both of you on one screen or two. The same conversations and the same 55-minute sessions.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation →Questions
A few things couples usually ask.
What does premarital counseling cost?
Current fees are on the Fees and FAQ page. Money is one of the biggest reasons couples put premarital counseling off. It’s an investment, and the wedding has a long cost list too: the dress, the venue, the flowers, the catering. Preparing for marriage is one of the smartest things on that list, and it costs far less than divorce attorney fees.
Will insurance cover premarital counseling?
Jenny is out-of-network, and sessions are self-pay. We can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement, and many couples use HSA or FSA funds. Reimbursement depends on your plan, so check with your insurer first.
Why do people avoid premarital counseling?
Often, the reason is fear. Many couples worry that talking openly about their problems could lead to bigger problems, or even the end of the relationship. It’s usually the opposite: addressing issues early, in a safe and structured space, lets you work through difficult feelings before they turn into bigger ones.
What do other couples say about it?
Here are common comments:
- We learned how to better navigate emotionally charged topics.
- We learned to fight fair.
- We discovered personal issues and helped each other through them.
- We talked about things we had been avoiding because they were uncomfortable.
- We got on the same page about expectations we didn’t even realize we had.
Is it only for couples who are struggling?
No. Premarital counseling is preventive. Couples who are doing well use it to get on the same page, build skills and know what to do when the first hard season arrives.
When should we start, and how long does it take?
Earlier gives you more room to practice and fewer wedding-week deadlines. There isn’t one set length, because it depends on what the two of you want to cover. We’ll talk it through on the free 15-minute call.
What topics do you cover?
It depends on your strengths and where you want to grow. Common topics include money, values, faith and culture, roles in marriage, children, family, communication and conflict, overcoming fears, and spotting unhealthy patterns so you can replace them with healthier ones. The 82 premarital counseling questions are a good way to start talking.
Ready when you are
A thriving life together starts today.
You don’t need a problem to start. A free 15-minute call is a low-pressure way to see whether premarital counseling feels like a fit.
Tell Jenny what’s on your mind, ask your questions, and decide from there. One of you can make the call.
Schedule a free 15-minute consultationIn person in Broad Ripple · Online in Indiana + Florida
