Marriage counseling questions: 20 vital questions
Dr. Masoume Falahian
TehranPsychologist and consultant
It is one of the most important partnership contracts in life. You choose a partner for a long journey; A journey full of financial, emotional and family ups and downs. No smart person would sign an important business contract without carefully reading all the clauses and asking the tough questions. So why should the most important emotional contract of life be based on hope and mere feelings?
Love, without a doubt, is the main fuel and motivation of this journey, but it is understanding and clarity that draw the road map and prevent going astray. Marriage Counseling Questions is a powerful tool to achieve this deep understanding. These are the questions that the counselor asks in the marriage counseling sessions to help you clarify all the hidden angles of your life together. This article provides you with an essential list of marriage counseling questions so that you can make the most informed decision of your life with your eyes open.
Why is "I love you" not enough?
Many couples avoid deep and serious conversations for fear of creating tension or spoiling the romantic image of the relationship. But the fact is that asking marriage counseling questions before the final commitment is one of the most romantic and responsible things. This shows that you value the future of this relationship so much that you are willing to carefully examine all its dimensions.
20 key questions in marriage counseling that you should discuss with your spouse
These 20 questions are classified into five critical topic categories. Each question is a gateway to a deeper conversation. Remember that the goal is not to arrive at the right answers, but to understand each other's perspectives and find ways to manage differences.
Part I: Financial and Career Foundations
Money and work are two of the most common sources of stress in life. Transparency in this area prevents many problems from occurring. This category of consultation questions for marriage is very vital.
- What is your philosophy about money? (Are you a saver or a spender? Does money symbolize security, power or pleasure for you?) Do you have personal debt? What is your plan to manage it and our joint financial plans?
- What are your career goals for the next 5 and 10 years and what role do you expect me to play in supporting you?
- If one of us loses his job or his income drops drastically, how will we react?
Part Two: Values, Beliefs and Lifestyle
- What are your most important values in life? (Three things that you are not willing to violate under any circumstances)
- What role do religious or spiritual beliefs play in your life and what place do you expect them to have in our future family?
- What is your definition of "good life"? (ideal home, how to spend holidays, balance between work and leisure)
- What is your opinion on key social issues (such as the role of men and women, politics, etc.)?
- How is your relationship with health and lifestyle (exercise, nutrition, smoking, etc.)?
Part Three: Communication and Conflict Management
This part is the core of the success or failure of a relationship. These marriage counseling questions will help you understand how you interact.
- When you get angry or upset, how do you usually react? (Are you silent? Are you talking? Do you need time?)
- What makes you feel heard and understood in a conversation?
- Can you remember one of our past disagreements that you think we handled well? Why?
- How easy or hard is it for you to say sorry and forgive?
"Counseling after marriage: A second chance for a healthy romantic relationship"
Section four: family, children and intimacy
This area deals with the most private and at the same time most influential parts of shared life.
- Do/when do you want to have children? What is your plan if we can't have children for any reason?
- What is the most important value you would like to teach our child?
- How should our borders be with our paternal and maternal families? Who is our main loyalty? (This is one of the key consulting questions for marriage).
- What is your definition of intimacy (emotional and physical) and what are your expectations in this regard?
- What is your opinion about loyalty and what behaviors do you consider crossing the red line?
Part Five: Dreams and Crises
These questions show you how you will be together in good times and bad.
- What is your biggest personal dream that you haven't achieved yet?
- In the face of a big and unexpected crisis (such as a serious illness), how do you expect us to support each other?
How to answer these questions?
Merely asking these questions is not enough. The important thing is how to talk about them. The table below lists the dos and don'ts of a healthy conversation:
Key principle must should not The right time and place Choose a time when both of you are calm, stress-free and with enough time. Do not start these conversations when tired, hungry, angry or in public places. Active listening Listen wholeheartedly to "get" the other person's point of view, not just prepare to respond. Do not interrupt him or look for answers and defenses in your mind. Using the pronoun "I" Express your feelings and needs. "I feel that..." Do not start with the pronoun "you". "You always..." (this sentence is reproachful). Management of emotions If the discussion gets heated, take a short break (eg 20 minutes) to calm down and then continue. Don't let emotions take over the conversation. Do not make decisions in anger and crying.What is the consultant's role in this process?
A professional counselor doesn't just give you a list of marriage counseling questions. His main role is:
- Creating a safe space: He provides an environment where you can talk about the most sensitive issues without fear of judgment.
- Conversation Facilitation: If the conversation becomes deadlocked or tense, he intervenes and brings it back on a constructive path. At Raha Roshan Center, our experts will help you turn these conversations into opportunities for increased intimacy and mutual understanding.
- Skill training: He will teach you the communication skills in the above table in a practical way.
From question to understanding
This list of 20 marriage counseling questions is a powerful tool to get you started. Remember that more important than the answers themselves is the process of talking, listening and trying to understand each other's world. To start this exploratory journey and receive expert guidance, you can benefit from the experience of our experts on the clear path.
Investing in these fundamental conversations is building a house whose pillars are built on transparency, mutual understanding and respect; A house for a lifetime.Frequently Asked Questions
1. If we do not agree on the answers to some marriage counseling questions, should we separate?
No. The purpose of asking marriage counseling questions is not to reach 100% agreement, because no two people are exactly alike. The main goal is to be aware of the differences and find a common way to manage them. Failure to agree is not the end of the road; It is the inability to communicate and manage differences that is dangerous.
2. Doesn't asking these marriage counseling questions cause tension and fights in the relationship?
If these conversations are conducted in the wrong way (blaming or at the wrong time), yes it is possible. This is why many couples prefer to go through this process with the help of a professional counselor. He will help you to have these conversations in a constructive and empathetic way.
3. When is the best time to ask marriage counseling questions?
The best time is the stage when your relationship has passed the initial phase of acquaintance and is close to a serious commitment. At this stage, there is enough intimacy to enter into these deep discussions, and at the same time, the final commitment (such as marriage) has not yet been made.
Related content ...
Courtesy etiquette for the boy's family: how to act professionally?
Articles
What is the purpose of women in marriage? Differences between generations and hidden motivation
Articles
All About Neurotherapy for Hyperactivity: From Cost to Treatment Outcomes
Articles
