6 Pre-Engagement Counseling Options Near Me in 2024

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Pre-engagement counseling gives you a deeper insight into your relationship, and prepares you and your partner for the ins and outs of marriage, and the challenges you may face.

In this guide, we’ve explored six places you can find a pre-engagement counselor. After, we’ve explained a bit more about this type of therapy, and how it works.

Want to skip right to the suggestions for pre-engagement counseling? Here are our 6 recommended therapy solutions:

  1. ReGain
  2. Ritual
  3. Find-a-therapist.com
  4. Calmerry
  5. TalkSpace
  6. Family Marriage Counseling

Pre-engagement counseling near me

Below, we’ve looked at six places you can access pre-engagement counseling, to help you build a successful relationship.

ProviderGood forLocationPricing
ReGainQuick match with the right couples therapist for youOnline therapy$65 to $90 per week (billed every 4 weeks)
RitualCouples guidance through proven interventionsOnline service$100 to $260 per month
Find-a-therapist.comFind and contact the right couples counselor for you and your partnerOnline and in-person therapyVaries depending on the counselor fee
CalmerryIndividual relationship counselingOnline therapy$49.50 to $73.75 per week (billed monthly)
TalkSpaceRelationship counseling, marriage counseling, premarital counselingOnline therapyVaries according to insurance coverage or self-pay options
Family Marriage CounselingLocate the right couples counselor for you and your partnerOnline and in-person therapy in the U.S. and CanadaVaries depending on the counselor fee

1. ReGain

ReGain

Tailored for individuals and couples navigating relationship or marital issues – ReGain is your online relationship therapy solution. Starting at $65/week, you can schedule one weekly live session and message your therapist anytime. Start your path to healthier connections with ReGain – fill out their online assessment form.

Note: We collaborate with top-tier mental health companies and receive advertising fees from purchases through the ReGain link.
  • Good for: Quick match with the right couples therapist for you.
  • Location: Online therapy.
  • Pricing: $65 to $90 per week (billed every 4 weeks).
  • Features: iOS and Android app available, message your therapist anytime, live sessions are scheduled weekly and done via live chat, phone, or video call.

ReGain is an online relationship therapy platform that provides access to licensed pre-engagement and premarital counselors. Using this platform, you can get help from experienced counselors to strengthen the bond between you and your partner.

Read our ReGain review here.

2. Ritual

Ritual

Ritual assists you in healing and transforming relationship issues into opportunities with the aid of their experienced Relationship Experts and science-backed methods. Complete the Ritual assessment to begin rekindling your relationship with 1:1 sessions with experienced professionals, personalized in-app content, guided reflections, and activities between sessions.

  • Good for: Couples guidance through proven interventions.
  • Location: Online service.
  • Pricing: $100 to $260 per month
  • Features: 1-1 sessions with relationship experts, online activities and personalized skill-building content, option to join together as a couple or on your own.

Ritual gives you 1-1 sessions with relationship experts, practical tools, and questionnaires to gain insight into your relationship dynamics and areas of strength and growth. These assessments can help identify and address potential areas of concern.

3. Find-a-therapist.com

Find-a-therapist.com
  • Good for: Finding and contacting the right couples counselor for you and your partner.
  • Location: Online and in-person therapy.
  • Pricing: Varies depending on the counselor fee.
  • Features: Filter your search, find accessible and effective online and in-person therapy, find guides on different types of therapy.

On find-a-therapist.com you can use the search filters on their online directory to find the right pre-engagement counselor. You can check therapists’ profiles and contact the one you select to schedule an appointment.

4. Calmerry

Calmerry

Embark on a journey of mental wellness with Calmerry. With diverse subscription options, starting at just $50, Calmerry makes prioritizing your mental health simple and accessible. You can message your therapist any day or schedule a live therapy session from the comfort of your home from any device. 

  • Good for: Individual relationship counseling.
  • Location: Online therapy.
  • Pricing: $49.50 to $73.75 per week (billed monthly).
  • Features: Message to your counselor anytime, text therapy and video therapy according to the plan you choose, free counselor switching.

Calmerry offers individual relationship counseling which can be useful for individuals who are hesitant about getting engaged. Therapists on Calmerry can help you address all concerns about your expectations about engagement and gain greater confidence in their decision to commit to marriage.

Read our comparison between Calmerry and BetterHelp here.

5. TalkSpace

TalkSpace

Tailored to individuals, couples, teens, and offering psychiatry services, Talkspace plans kick off at a wallet-friendly $69 per week. What’s more, many health insurances also cover their services, enhancing accessibility and affordability. Complete a questionnaire and get matched with the right therapist for you.

Find-a-therapist readers get $100-OFF with a code SPACE.
  • Good for: Relationship counseling, marriage counseling, premarital counseling.
  • Location: Online therapy.
  • Pricing: Varies according to insurance coverage or self-pay options.
  • Features: Accepts insurance, pick your therapist from a list of recommendations, live video sessions and unlimited messaging with your therapist.

TalkSpace for couples works by providing a convenient and accessible platform for partners to engage in therapy together. Therapists can help you and your partner address potential challenges and foster a deeper connection and understanding before taking the next step in your relationship.

Read our TalkSpace review here.

6. Family Marriage Counseling

Family Marriage Counseling

Family Marriage Counseling is a nationwide directory that helps you to find couples counselors and therapists in your area. This website provides the contact information of licensed counselors who specialize in premarital, marital, and family counseling.

What is pre-engagement counseling?

Couple in pre-engagement counseling.

Suppose you have been dating your boyfriend or girlfriend for a substantial amount of time, and are considering engagement as the next step in your relationship. In this case, it might be the right time to consider pre-engagement counseling, before committing to getting engaged.

Pre-engagement counseling involves seeing a relationship counselor prior to getting engaged. You might like to do this to iron out any potential issues in the relationship, plan ahead for each of your roles and responsibilities in marriage, or decide if this is the right time to get engaged, amongst other things.

During the counseling sessions, couples explore a lot about each other, including their specific needs and wants from the relationship. Important aspects of the past may be discussed, to let each individual overcome any previous trauma they may be dealing with. Also, future plans may be discussed, to help clarify each individual’s hopes and desires for the future (such as whether or not you plan to have children).

These types of counseling sessions sometimes have personality tests to give both individuals a better understanding of their partners. However, if you’re sure of your compatibility, and think that these types of tests are a bit superficial, then you can ask your couples counselor to avoid using them.

Topics discussed in pre-engagement counseling

There are a number of different topics that you might like to discuss with your counselor during pre-engagement therapy. These include, but are not limited to:

Family history

Sometimes, couples only enquire about each other’s immediate family background, such as each other’s siblings and parents, and what they each do for a living. However, it can be worth digging a little deeper with help from a counselor, to help you overcome any issues that are rooted in your prior family experiences.

If relevant, relationship counselors may you ask questions such as:

  • How do you view your parents’ relationship?
  • What is your best memory of your childhood?
  • Is there anything that haunts you from your childhood?
  • If you have a chance to erase something from your memory, what would it be and why?

These questions help the couple understand each other’s emotional baggage, and your counselor will help you to overcome these types of issues. Partners can help each other by exploring past trauma and moving forward together, rather than waiting for these issues to re-surface once you’re engaged.

Likes and dislikes in each other

A couple holding hands.

Most couples know almost everything about each other’s hobbies, interests, personality, education, and profession. However, couples seldom ask each other detailed questions about what their partner thinks of them. This can lead to tension later on in a relationship, which will be more difficult to overcome at a later date.

During counseling sessions, your counselor may ask questions such as:

  • What are the things that your partner does that bother you, if any?
  • What is a deal-breaker for you in a relationship?

These questions help each individual understand their personality and their partner’s personality. Opening up in front of each other with a counselor present can help to make sharing this type of information much more easy.

Future expectations and life goals

Future expectations are very important to discuss prior to engagement or marriage, as this is one of the biggest causes of frustration after commitment. Prior to getting engaged, counselors help couples identify each other’s expectations of the partner and their relationship.

During these discussions, you’ll explore each other’s expectations in a number of key areas, such as:

  • Division of household chores.
  • Career goals.
  • Where you’ll live (whose family will you be closest to?).
  • Aspirations about having kids, or more kids.
  • What your sex life will look like.
  • How much time you’ll spend together, especially if one or more of you lives a very busy life.
  • How finances will be split, in terms of how income will be divided (will you share a bank account?) and how bills will be paid.

It’s impossible to plan out every little detail before marriage, but you can develop a much clearer vision of the future through these types of counseling sessions.

Moreover, through these discussions, the counselor can help you to find a middle ground if there are any disagreements, which may be more difficult without help from a third party.

Communication

Even after seeing a counselor for a long time, it’s impossible to plan everything out exactly. This is why your counselor might teach you some communication and conflict resolution strategies, to help you overcome any issues that arise later on in the relationship.

For example, you may be encouraged to use “I” statements to express your feelings on certain matters, rather than using a more accusatory tone that may lead to conflict escalation.

Benefits of pre-engagement counseling

Happy couple.

Pre-engagement counseling prepares you and your partner for the rest of your life together. It gives you the certainty that both of you are compatible with leading a peaceful, happy life in a relationship together for years to come.

This type of counseling reminds you that a relationship is not just about love, laughter, fun, and togetherness. In fact, marriage brings with it significant responsibilities and challenges, which you will need to plan for.

Pre-engagement counseling helps the couple understand that searching for perfection in a relationship is not the best approach. In contrast, you can achieve a strong bond with persistent effort and never-ending attention to the details of the relationship.

Pre-engagement counseling does not necessarily mean that the couple is facing problems in their relationship, nor does it mean that you have to get married in the immediate future. This type of counseling helps couples to understand each other better.

It’s often a good idea to do this prior to getting engaged, because there can be significant social stigma attached to breaking off an engagement, having already made a commitment to one another.

Pre-engagement counseling vs pre-marital counseling

There are a number of differences between pre-engagement counseling and pre-marital counseling, although they share similar goals.

Pre-engagement counseling often covers more ground

Pre-engagement counseling covers almost all aspects of a relationship, rather than focusing specifically on marriage. Thus, it allows you to discuss all of the thoughts, misunderstandings, questions, or issues related to your relationship with your therapist.

The pressure of commitment

Though premarital counseling also focuses on resolving any relationship issues, couples attending premarital counseling often have a lot of wedding-related thoughts on their minds. Thus, it can seem more difficult to follow your therapist’s advice in premarital counseling. For example, if they give you homework to do together, you might not have time if you’re planning a wedding.

Moreover, it’s easier for both the partners in pre-engagement therapy to talk openly about their hopes, fears, and expectations without considering their partners’ emotions. This is because you haven’t yet made the commitment to get married at this stage.

Pre-engagement counseling may discuss compatibility in more detail

Since you have not yet agreed to get married, in pre-engagement counseling, you may spend more time discussing any compatibility issues with your partner, compared to premarital counseling.

However, if you are certain of your compatibility with your partner, you don’t have to discuss this in pre-engagement counseling if you don’t want to. Simply let your counselor know that you’re looking to talk about whether it’s the right time to get married, or your roles and responsibilities post-marriage, or any other relationship-related topics that the two of you want to discuss.

Conclusion

Pre-engagement counseling gives you more space and time to understand each other, your goals for the future, and expectations post-engagement.

If you are in a relationship and are considering asking your partner to be your fiancé or fiancée, pre-engagement counseling sessions can help you establish a stronger bond with your partner while planning for the future, under the guidance of a licensed professional relationship counselor.

Additional Resources

Prioritizing our mental well-being is paramount in today’s fast-paced world. The digital age has redefined therapy and psychiatric care, making support more accessible than ever. To guide you towards a healthier state of mind, we’ve partnered with pioneering names in mental health.
Note: We collaborate with top-tier mental health companies and we earn a commission if you purchase services through our ads.

Online Therapy

Discover a path to emotional well-being with BetterHelp – your partner in convenient and affordable online therapy. With a vast network of 30,000+ licensed therapists, they’re committed to helping you find the one to support your needs. Take advantage of their Free Online Assessment, and connect with a therapist who truly understands you. Begin your journey today.

Relationship Counceling

Whether you’re facing communication challenges, trust issues, or simply seeking to strengthen your connection, ReGain’s experienced therapists are here to guide you and your partner toward a healthier, happier connection from the comfort of your own space. Get started.

Therapist Directory

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About the author

Dr. Irfan Siddique
When individuals experience mental trauma or face severe stress, their lives can unravel. Dr. Irfan Saddique's job is to help begin the healing process. He assists his patients in improving their mental health, strengthening relationships with others, and beginning to overcome past traumas. He practices a wide range of psycho-behavioral therapies and possesses more than three years' experience in clinical psychology and counseling.

In his spare time, Dr. Irfan Saddique is also a professional writer who spreads awareness about mental health issues. He has written many articles on this topic over the years for numerous different publications.

His educational background includes an M.B.B.S from the University of Health and Sciences, Lahore, majoring in Behavioral Sciences, and a Bachelors from G.C University, Faisalabad.

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