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Offered in-person & online

Our therapists offer premarital counseling in Knoxville, TN

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686,000 people sought help with Thriveworks in the last year

Discover how starting premarital counseling can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

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Hello, I am glad that you are here! As you work with me, you will see that I am very liberal, non-judgmental, and inclusive to all cultural and racial... Hello, I am glad that you are here! As you work with me, you will see that I am very liberal, non-judgmental, and inclusive to all cultural and racial identities. Clients often want to work with me because I have a holistic approach to therapy and teach a wide variety of skills. I am of the LGBTQIA + community and specialize in issues that arise in this population, including religious persecution. Read more

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As an individual who has experienced anxiety and depression, I understand the value of having support to help you navigate through these issues. I wo... As an individual who has experienced anxiety and depression, I understand the value of having support to help you navigate through these issues. I would love to be that support for you and walk alongside you as you become the best version of yourself! Read more

Starting Premarital counseling

What is Premarital counseling?

Premarital counseling is a type of therapy that helps couples prepare for and build a happy, successful marriage. Premarital therapists at Thriveworks in Knoxville, TN can help couples develop essential communication skills, identify potential conflict areas, and learn how to manage their specific relationship issues.

How does Premarital counseling work?

When you and your partner begin premarital counseling, your counselor will want to get to know you both as well as your relationship. In order to accomplish this, they will ask questions around the following:

  • Common interests and activities
  • Marital expectations
  • Budget and Finance
  • Children and parenting
  • Intimacy

If there is a particular area that they feel needs to be explored further (for example, you note that you and your partner have very different spending habits and views on money), they’ll guide the conversation in the given direction.

Is Premarital counseling conducted in person or online?

Premarital counseling at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and through Online therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you and your partner.

How long does Premarital counseling last?

Generally speaking, Thriveworks premarital counseling in Knoxville typically lasts for 8-10 weeks. This, however, can vary depending on the counselor’s approach as well as the clients’ preferences and needs. For example, some couples might request additional sessions to work through problem areas that they’ve identified in their relationship, pre-wedding.

Need more help deciding?

Congratulations! If you have discovered this page, it is most likely because you are planning a wedding, or hoping to do so soon. This is a very exciting time in a person’s life. Maybe the date is set, the dress has been bought, the responses received, and someone has cold feet. Alternatively, perhaps you and your partner are looking to explore whether this relationship should be headed for marriage. In premarital counseling, we can help both partners in the relationship decide if marriage is best.

Before agreeing to perform a marriage ceremony, some pastors, priests, or other officiate requires that the couple conduct premarital counseling. This is very common and is done to ensure that both partners are giving this decision the sincerity and contemplation that it deserves. In some states, those wishing to get married under the age of 18 must conduct premarital counseling by law.

Marriage is a joyous and blessed union, but it is also not without challenges and sacrifices. Taking the time to discuss these possible challenges in advance is a smart option for any couple, whatever their age, socioeconomic status, or life situation.

Premarital Counseling: Sometimes Voluntary, Always Beneficial

If you are already in the stages of planning a wedding, you know how stressful of a time this can be for couples. There are so many decisions to be made, budgets to think of, and family members to deal with patiently. This is a festive time, but it can also create conflict and tension in the relationship. Even the happiest and most stable couples can become filled with anxiety during the most intense phases of planning a wedding. This may be the first time that you are required to have a lot of interaction with your in-laws, and perhaps you are scared or worried about what you see. This is common and natural at times, and can often be addressed easily in premarital counseling.

If premarital counseling is not absolutely required for you and your partner by the officiate of your wedding, you are still making an excellent choice by considering taking the time to discuss different variables in your relationship. Establishing a long-term connection is not easy and we have all heard the horrible statistics regarding lasting marriages. We have heard that nearly half of all marriages will dissolve. This is extremely sad and we would like to help you to avoid becoming one of those statistics. Thriveworks Knoxville therapists and counselors can help you and your loved one establish important communication skills and coping mechanisms for when life throws you one of those unexpected bumps in the road. Your marriage will undoubtedly face hardships, challenges, stress, and pain. Be prepared for this as best possible.

When Should Thriveworks Knoxville Premarital Counseling Begin?

As we have previously discussed, sometimes premarital counseling is required, and sometimes it is optional. This usually implies that the big question has already been asked and a couple is engaged to be married. However, some couples seek “pre-engagement” counseling in order to determine whether that next step of wedding planning should even be considered. If you or your partner is uncertain of the next step in your relationship, seeking counseling is a wonderful way to explore these feelings and help your relationship move forward. Being “non-committal” seems to almost be an epidemic today. Premarital counseling can help you discover what the blocks to commitment may be, and what personal issues and fears a partner is bringing to the relationship.

There are many things that are easier to talk about with a neutral third party present in the room. Perhaps you have concerns about your relationship that you are scared to bring up to your loved one. It can be reassuring and calming to have a mediator in the room to help work through the thoughts and feelings that can develop from being completely open and honest with one another.

Many couples are unprepared for the number of compromises and decisions that will have to be made in a marriage. There are many issues to discuss, whether a couple is in their 1st or 30th year of marriage. A Thriveworks Knoxville Premarital counselor will help you and your partner discuss many of these in advance, such as:

  • Common interests and leisure activities
  • Role expectations
  • Communication styles
  • Religion and worship attendance
  • Household duties and expectations
  • Budget and finance
  • Children and parenting styles
  • Public or private education
  • Sexuality and intimacy
  • Needs for space and privacy
  • Where the family unit will reside
  • Finances and debt
  • Occupations and careers
  • Holiday expectations and travel
  • Relationships with extended family and in-laws

Simply because you follow through with premarital counseling does not indicate that you absolutely have to actually get married. In fact, sometimes couples undergo premarital therapy, and then find it best that they do not pursue marriage, or that a marital relationship might be a fit for them in the future, but certainly not now. The choice will be up to you and your partner, after you have explored your relationship in a deep and meaningful way.

Do not be worried that entering into premarital counseling with your partner has “sealed the deal” and you are required to actually get married now. Premarital counseling will help both you and your partner decide if marriage is the right choice. Perhaps a delay is necessary, or possibly dissolution of the relationship is the right choice. Hopefully this is not the case and wedding bells will be ringing soon, but a trained, educated, experienced counselor will help you make the best choice about your future with your loved one.

Premarital Counseling: Important for the Relationship, Important for the Individual

Many studies have shows that premarital counseling is beneficial for the relationship and can help minimize fears and separation anxiety. However, we also believe that counseling in general is helpful for the individuals in the relationship. Being in an open and honest environment where communication is encouraged and expected can help foster growth and emotional health for both members of the relationship.

As with most types of therapy and counseling, some of the benefits include:

  • Confidence and assertiveness
  • Patience
  • Avoiding dependency and co-dependency
  • Having realistic expectations of others
  • Contentment
  • Developing coping skills

Being a part of premarital therapy or any other type of counseling does not imply that you have a “problem” that needs fixing. Instead, it shows that you are taking the time to be prepared for future challenges and that you are invested in making your relationship succeed.

Why Choose Thriveworks Knoxville Premarital Counseling?

Through premarital counseling, couples will discover how to create vital skills to help their relationship survive the inevitable challenges it will face. Making an informed decision about the therapist or counselor that will help you on this journey of preparation is very important and should not be taken lightly.

Thriveworks counselors and therapists are experts in their field. They are respected leaders in their community and have been published in leading publications, such as the Chicago Tribune, Prevention, Psychiatric Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, and the Journal of Mental Health Counseling. We are ready to put our expertise to work for your relationship.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Knoxville therapists and counselors accept 22 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee | BCBS

  • BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Medicare Advantage

  • Caresource

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

  • Humana HMO/POS

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Self-pay costs at Knoxville
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.6 Thriveworks Knoxville reviews are collected through Thriveworks.com.
★★★★★
I saw Justin for assistance with OCD. He showed me how to look at things in a way that did not allow my OCD to take over. I will would highly recommend him.
Read more I saw Justin for assistance with OCD. He showed me how to look at things in a way that did not allow my OCD to take over. I will would highly recommend him.
Knoxville Feb 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I have been taking my 7 year old grandson to see Justin. He had horrible anxiety. It saddened us to see how bad it was. He had developed tics. Justin was absolutely wonderful with him. He has overcome most of his fears and tics have went away. I would highly recommend Justin.
Read more I have been taking my 7 year old grandson to see Justin. He had horrible anxiety. It saddened us to see how bad it was. He had developed tics. Justin was absolutely wonderful with him. He has overcome most of his fears and tics have went away. I would highly recommend Justin.
Knoxville Sep 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Going to Thriveworks for the past year and a half has been the most rewarding counseling experience I’ve had. Seeing Lindsey has had the single biggest impact on my emotional and mental health, especially in healing from past childhood abuse and trauma, and ongoing PTSD. Out of multiple counselors in two states, Lindsey Chandler is by far the one with whom I’ve felt the most accepted, supported, and encouraged by. I am grateful for the Thriveworks space, as it is not at all clinical nor intimidating, but entirely warn and welcoming. It is nearly a scent-free environment, which is vital for the comfort of any highly sensitive persons. I choose to drive an hour from home each visit specifically to stay loyal to a place where I finally feel safe and valued—where in the past commuting five minutes from home to work with a therapist felt like a chore and an ordeal—and I will continue to do so as I work further toward a healthier me.
Read more Going to Thriveworks for the past year and a half has been the most rewarding counseling experience I’ve had. Seeing Lindsey has had the single biggest impact on my emotional and mental health, especially in healing from past childhood abuse and trauma, and ongoing PTSD. Out of multiple counselors in two states, Lindsey Chandler is by far the one with whom I’ve felt the most accepted, supported, and encouraged by. I am grateful for the Thriveworks space, as it is not at all clinical nor intimidating, but entirely warn and welcoming. It is nearly a scent-free environment, which is vital for the comfort of any highly sensitive persons. I choose to drive an hour from home each visit specifically to stay loyal to a place where I finally feel safe and valued—where in the past commuting five minutes from home to work with a therapist felt like a chore and an ordeal—and I will continue to do so as I work further toward a healthier me.
Knoxville Jan 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Dr Neal has helped me more in the last 2 months than any other therapist in the last 5 years. Therapy has become a joy instead of a chore. :)
Read more Dr Neal has helped me more in the last 2 months than any other therapist in the last 5 years. Therapy has become a joy instead of a chore. :)
Knoxville Dec 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Justin Hall is an excellent therapist. Very easy to talk to and genuinely concerned with the patient.
Read more Justin Hall is an excellent therapist. Very easy to talk to and genuinely concerned with the patient.
Knoxville Nov 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Amanda Gilliam has been such a blessing in helping my daughter deal with her anxiety issues. My daughter is much stronger and confident now thanks to Amanda's expertise,dedication, and just willing to talk about whatever my daughter wants to talk about! Great person to call if you in know someone dealing with anxiety!
Read more Amanda Gilliam has been such a blessing in helping my daughter deal with her anxiety issues. My daughter is much stronger and confident now thanks to Amanda's expertise,dedication, and just willing to talk about whatever my daughter wants to talk about! Great person to call if you in know someone dealing with anxiety!
Knoxville Oct 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
My son saw “Mrs. Amanda” as he affectionately called her shortly after my marriage ended in a high conflict divorce. My son was 6 years old at the time, so it was difficult for him to process his feelings without knowing how to communicate with us. Amanda Gilliam was always there to listen and provide outlets for him to speak openly about his feelings in a way that could be understood. She is top knotch in my book and I would highly recommend her as a professional!
Read more My son saw “Mrs. Amanda” as he affectionately called her shortly after my marriage ended in a high conflict divorce. My son was 6 years old at the time, so it was difficult for him to process his feelings without knowing how to communicate with us. Amanda Gilliam was always there to listen and provide outlets for him to speak openly about his feelings in a way that could be understood. She is top knotch in my book and I would highly recommend her as a professional!
Knoxville Oct 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I was in sessions with Justin for about a year and highly recommend him. He has a deep grasp of psychology that he is constantly refreshing and renewing, and he was able to help me a lot in understanding what was driving the emotions and feelings of myself and close family members. He was a great help.
Read more I was in sessions with Justin for about a year and highly recommend him. He has a deep grasp of psychology that he is constantly refreshing and renewing, and he was able to help me a lot in understanding what was driving the emotions and feelings of myself and close family members. He was a great help.
Knoxville Sep 2018
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling Knoxville is located off of N Peters Rd and Market Pl Blvd, across the street from Market Place Shopping Center. Our other neighbors include Block Advisors, Geosyntec Consultants, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Red Roof PLUS+ & Suites Knoxville West - Cedar Bluff. The closest bus stop to our building is N Peters Rd EB @ Market Place Blvd.

Phone number

(865) 290-2278

Languages spoken by TN providers

  • English
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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