Best Premarital Counseling

Best Overall: Talkspace

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Key Specs

• Cost: $260–$400+ per month 
• Platforms: Live video, audio, chat, unlimited messaging

Why We Chose It: Talkspace has streamlined online counseling for couples hoping to address any issue disrupting their relationship, including those that arise leading up to the wedding. 

Pros

• Expert licensed couples therapists on staff
• Unlimited messaging
• Easy sign-up

Cons

• No therapist bios access prior to sign-up 
• Can only choose therapists from those you match with 

Overview

Since couples preparing for marriage tend to be busy, online counseling that’s widely accessible makes therapy simpler, which is why Talkspace takes the top spot on this list. The company has been around since 2012. They offer more general therapy too, but it is their designated team of couples and marriage therapists that got our attention for this list. You can sign up for premarital counseling—and if you need it, continue counseling after your wedding too. 

To sign up, you start by taking their simple questionnaire. Then, based on your answers, you’ll be matched with a number of therapists options and you and your partner can decide who you want to work with. 

Once you begin counseling, you can communicate with your therapist in a number of ways—via video or audio chat, live chat, and text. In terms of cost, Talkspace is about average when compared to similar services. 

Best for Busy Couples: Growing Self

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Key Specs

• Cost: $65-$160 for program or private premarital counselor; $250 for online course
• Platforms: Zoom and Simple Practice

Why We Chose It: Growing Self offers premarital counseling and couples counseling in-person and online.

Pros

• Online and in-person counseling
• Sliding scale of prices available
• Premarital counseling is a specialty

Cons

• Insurance not accepted
• In-person only available in Colorado 
• No subscription plans

Overview

Growing Self aims to make premarital counseling and couples counseling as easy as possible. It offers three different types of premarital counseling options: an in-person class, a guided program, or private counseling. While the class is only available at a few locations in Colorado, the last two can be done virtually from anywhere. 

If you opt to do the program, you take a comprehensive assessment of your relationship to help pinpoint areas you and your partner need to work on. Once completed, you meet with your counselor to decide on a treatment game plan. This usually consists of a few sessions where you learn strategies to be better partners. 

If you opt for private counseling, you’ll have more of an in-depth, prolonged counseling experience. However, you still have scheduling flexibility, and the ability to choose a counselor who fits your budget. Growing Self also provides a free consultation, so you can get a clear idea of what you’re signing up for before you agree to move forward. Finally, Growing Self also offers couples counseling as an option too, so you can continue your therapy once you’re married.

Best for Conflict Management: Couples Therapy Inc

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Key Specs

• Cost: $159 to $250 per couples counseling session; $119 to $199 for couples coaching; $714-$1500 for a 5-6-hour assessment; $2,500 to $5,000+ per weekend intensive retreat 
• Platforms: Live video

Why We Chose It: Couples Therapy Inc has intensive therapy retreat options available across the country to tackle issues efficiently. 

Pros

• Intensive program
• Online therapy, private in-person and virtual retreats offered
• Clear, expert focus on relationships

Cons

• Retreats are expensive
• No subscription plans
• All sessions must be in-person or via live video chat

Overview

If you’ve been with your partner for quite some time before deciding to legally unify, you might have some deep-seated issues that need ironing out. However, since you’re also potentially planning a wedding, you may not have the time to dedicate to several weekly sessions. That’s when an intensive couples counseling retreat like what Couples Therapy Inc offers might be your best option. 

They also offer an intensive counseling option specifically for those who are on the road to getting married. The program begins with a 5- to 6-hour assessment, which involves filling out comprehensive questionnaires, two joint online sessions, and two online sessions that you complete without your partner. All of this can be completed over three weeks. The sessions are designed to zero in on a few areas that are most concerning you before marriage. 

It may sound like a lot, but in the end, your therapist will have a good idea of the issues that need addressing and can offer a clear treatment plan involving actions you can take to improve your relationship. This targeted approach is apparently why the service has been so successful for many couples. The cost of this particular program varies depending on the level of expertise of your counselor, and the rate is hourly-based.  

For those who can’t commit to an intensive program like this, Couples Therapy can break up sessions to accommodate your schedule. Or, if you’d prefer to do more traditional therapy sessions, that’s an option as well. If you’re not sure what will work best, they have a quiz on their website that will outline each program and guide you to what will work best for you and your partner. 

Therapy is run by counselors with over 20 years of training in science-backed relationship therapy, and you can review their bios ahead of time before moving forward with one. All sessions, even the intensive weekend, can be completed online, so your location won’t prevent you from accessing the program unless you prefer to do it in person. Before getting started, your chosen therapist will have you fill out an assessment about your relationship, and what you’re hoping to address. 

It should be noted that the intensive counseling weekend is pricey, starting at $500.

Best for Improving Communication: Regain

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Key Specs

• Cost: $240 to $320+ per month
• Platforms: Messaging, phone, video

Why We Chose It: Regain has an easy-to-use platform where you can message your therapist whenever you want and see them weekly for live video sessions.

Pros

• Expert staff of licensed couples therapists
• Convenient monthly subscription
• Unlimited messaging 

Cons

• No therapist bios on website
• No free trial
• You can’t pick your therapist

Overview

ReGain is a BetterHelp-owned company that is devoted entirely to helping couples navigate relationship issues as they arise, whether that’s before or after marriage. You can sign up for premarital counseling, couples counseling, or as an individual if your partner doesn’t want to join.

The company only offers one monthly subscription plan and the price varies depending on what therapist you’re matched with and where you live, but it includes one weekly live video session and the option to message your therapist through the app whenever you want. All therapists are licensed and have experience working as couples counselors. 

You cannot pick your therapist yourself—you’ll get matched with one based on your intake questionnaire answers—but if you don’t like who you’re matched with, you can easily switch whenever you want with the push of a button. 

Best for LGBTQ+ Couples: The Queer Couples Center

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Key Specs

• Cost: Varies, depending on the therapist
• Platforms: Video and phone sessions

Why We Chose It: It's one of the few online counseling companies that's geared toward LGBTQIA+ couples looking to get married.

Pros

• Has a video blog run therapists
• Geared toward all types of LGBTQIA+ couples
• Course be completed in 90 days

Cons

• Small number of therapists available
• No pricing listed on the website
• Not covered by insurance

Overview

LGBTQIA+ couples may experience pre-marital stress and anxiety just like any other couple, but they might also have to deal with issues heterosexual couples don’t as much. For example, as you work toward blending your families, you could be faced with family members who aren’t as accepting of your union, or vendors who have oddly discriminative policies. For things like that and more, it’s helpful to have a therapist to turn to who gets it, and who can help you tackle anything that arises and tests your relationship. 

The Queer Couples Center is a San Francisco-based organization run by a gay couple who also happen to be qualified, accredited therapists. They’re both certified in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy method, and worked with them on a peer-reviewed study on the effectiveness of the method on same-sex couples. All the therapists at Queer couples are LGBTQIA+ and trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy—which is often cited as one of the most effective ways of addressing relationship issues.

Their services include couples counseling and relationship coaching (which can be done individually, with your partner or in a group therapy session). And they offer a premarital counseling program specifically designed to help couples “develop a plan to keep your relationship committed long term.” They also offer something called the Gay Relationship Revolution Program, which is a three-phase counseling program designed to help same-sex couples improve their relationship in just 90 days. 

In order to get started, you need to take a brief questionnaire on their website followed by a free assessment call with one of the therapists. After that, you’ll be matched with a therapist who best fits your needs, and can schedule video or phone sessions with them that fit your schedule. 

In the meantime, you can get a sense of how they work by watching their video blogs where they discuss common relationship issues and ways to address them. They also provide an extensive list of mental health resources, including crisis centers, meditation and yoga groups, and helpful books. The main downside of the service is that it’s based on the West Coast, so scheduling sessions could be challenging for people who live far from there. In addition, the service has a relatively small pool of therapists and there’s no mention of cost-per-session ranges on their website. 

Best for Christian Couples: Grace Wellness Center

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Key Specs

• Cost: $55 to $150 per session
• Platforms: Video, phone, and in-person

Why We Chose It: Grace Wellness is geared toward helping Christian couples navigate all stages of their relationship, and one of their specialties is premarital counseling.

Pros

• In-person and online counseling available
• You can choose your own therapist
• Premarital counseling is a specialty
• Discounted and sliding scale rates available

Cons

• May not be suited for non-Christians 
• In-person sessions only available in Pennsylvania  
• Vague statement of faith

Overview

Whether beliefs and traditions are causing friction or if you’re looking for a more faith-based approach to counseling, Grace Wellness Center might be able to help. All of their providers have a deep understanding of Christianity and several of them specialize in helping Christian couples work through any concerns they may have on their journey to the altar and beyond, including conflict resolution, and issues around intimacy and communication. 

You can choose your own counselor at Grace Wellness Center, which is different than many of the other companies we reviewed, and you can meet with them in person, on the phone, or via live video chat. The counselors will also likely share workbooks and educational resources with you too to parse through in your own time. 

It should be noted, however, that some of the counselors are not licensed therapists, but rather guides or pastors.

Best for Financial Advice: Financial Therapy Association

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Key Specs

• Cost: Depends on the therapist
• Platforms: Depends on the therapist

Why We Chose It: Financial Therapy Association is a network of therapists who are experts at helping individuals and couples navigate the intersection of financial and emotional issues. 

Pros

• Large network of qualified therapists
• Bios available online
• You can choose who you want to work with

Cons

• No information about cost on the website

Overview

No matter how stable your relationship may seem, when you’re preparing for marriage, financial issues are bound to surface. Whether issues stem from exorbitant wedding costs, earning inequality, spending disagreements, or combining assets, money can be a stress point both before marriage—and after. Several analyses have found that finances are the most common cause of conflict between couples at any stage. Another study found that when finances are the biggest source of contention in a marriage, it’s more likely to end in divorce. The reason why seems to be that finances and emotions are more closely linked than people think. 

Financial therapy is a newer form of therapy, but a sizable group of experts in the field have amassed under the organization Financial Therapy Association. All the therapists are vetted, and you can search for one who fits your needs under “find a therapist” on their website. There, you will find a lengthy bio on each therapist’s specialties, where they’re located, if you can meet with them virtually or in-person, and their payment structure. Most of them appear to work on a pay-per-session model—and insurance doesn’t generally cover this type of therapy. However, if you’re hoping to get to the bottom of the financial issues in your relationship before saying “I do,” this is where you’ll find therapists at the forefront of the burgeoning field.