Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

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

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

Meet with a provider as soon as this week

Good news! We have 82 therapists in Virginia available for an online or in-person session.

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 Richmond, VA 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 Richmond 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?

Richmond Pre-marital Counseling – Marriage, Couples, Relationships

Most couples that undergo premarital counseling are engaged, but it can also be helpful for those just beginning to consider marriage (in this case, the service is called pre-engagement counseling). It can be difficult to know whether marriage is the best next step. Maybe one partner in the relationship is ready for marriage — the other may be scared or anxious.

A skilled premarital counselor can help couples decide for themselves what is best for both individuals through discussion and knowledge sharing. And at Thriveworks Richmond Premarital Counseling, excellent therapists are ready to meet with you this week. Reach out today to get started.

Why Pursue Premarital Counseling?

As with any form or counseling or therapy, there are benefits to the individuals, as well as to the relationship. Getting to know yourself better, as well as understanding your own desires and goals can help you be a better future spouse.

Planning a wedding is stressful for many couples. There are so many tasks to be accomplished, in-laws to meet, friends to wrangle together in some semblance of a wedding party; the list goes on and on. There are so many choices to be made for the actual wedding and reception; couples can disagree about so many different things during this time. If one partner in the relationship is having doubts about the wedding, they may feel very uncomfortable voicing these once the invitations have gone out. However, there is no better time to explore your fears or doubts than before the wedding.

Even the happiest and most stable of couples are put under a great deal of stress during wedding planning. Taking the time to focus on your relationship is the best way to prepare for your wedding and — most importantly — for your marriage. Thriveworks Richmond Premarital Counseling can also help couples understand what marriage is really like in the first to the fiftieth year of marriage.

Common Topics in Premarital Counseling

  • 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

You do not have to be worried that if you enter into premarital counseling that you are obligated to get married. The industry-leading therapists at Thriveworks Richmond Premarital Counseling can help you and your partner decide if this is truly the best next step for your relationship. If it is not, we can help coach you through conversations about where the relationship goes from here. The choice will always be up to you; your counselor will simply help you make the process easier to understand by inviting you to engage in judgement-free communication and understanding.

Benefits of Premarital Counseling

Research has shown that premarital counseling can minimize separation fears and pre-marriage anxieties. Better insight into their relationship, and also into one’s self helps improve both members functioning, as well as finding out skills helpful in various other relationships.

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
  • Establishing goals

You should know that therapy, counseling and coaching do not imply you have a problem. Rather, it indicates that you are conscientious in trying to prevent future problems and create the best relationship possible through self-examination and self-improvement.

Scheduling Premarital Counseling at Thriveworks Richmond

We respect your decision to seek counseling and know that it is time-sensitive. We do not believe in operating with a waiting list. We want to be ready when you are ready to seek help. For that reason, in most cases, we have appointments available for new clients within the week. Plus, we offer evening and weekend sessions, and we accept most major insurances.

Call Thriveworks Richmond Premarital Counseling today at 804-554-0356 or click the button below to start planning yourself for a lifelong, healthy, loving 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 Richmond therapists and counselors accept 26 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia Medicare Advantage

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Virginia | BCBS PPO

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Virginia | BCBS PPO

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

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Self-pay costs at Richmond
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

4.7 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
I have looked so long for a new counselor and finally found a wonderful therapist through thrive works… Rhiannon Price has been working with me and has helped me so much
Read more I have looked so long for a new counselor and finally found a wonderful therapist through thrive works… Rhiannon Price has been working with me and has helped me so much
Michelle Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★☆☆☆
My experience has been somewhat less desiring. My ongoing sessions with the counselor is not as expected. It’s not engaging and oftentimes we are sitting in silence. I even asked if there was an ending game plan so we know where we are working towards and I didn’t get an answer.
Read more My experience has been somewhat less desiring. My ongoing sessions with the counselor is not as expected. It’s not engaging and oftentimes we are sitting in silence. I even asked if there was an ending game plan so we know where we are working towards and I didn’t get an answer.
Chris Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★★
I have known Scott Beach personally and professionally for almost 15 years. He is a caring and compassionate individual and an outstanding clinician. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking to engage with an ethical and skilled counselor who will meet you where you are without judgment and work with you to achieve your counseling goals!
Read more I have known Scott Beach personally and professionally for almost 15 years. He is a caring and compassionate individual and an outstanding clinician. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking to engage with an ethical and skilled counselor who will meet you where you are without judgment and work with you to achieve your counseling goals!
Richmond Jul 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Ashley Crouch has been been a blessing to me over the past year. I cannot begin to thank her enough for how she has impacted my life. She is very effective, professional, and respectful. My quality of life has improved by leaps and bounds and I'm forever grateful. I live in a rural area with few counseling options, so online counseling was a Godsend, and so was Ashley!
Read more Ashley Crouch has been been a blessing to me over the past year. I cannot begin to thank her enough for how she has impacted my life. She is very effective, professional, and respectful. My quality of life has improved by leaps and bounds and I'm forever grateful. I live in a rural area with few counseling options, so online counseling was a Godsend, and so was Ashley!
Richmond Dec 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Exceptional service.
Richmond Jan 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
I’ve been seeing Ashley for about a month now at Thriveworks and I couldn’t be happier. She really helped me get back to person I use to be. I’ve had a rough couple years and she has me well on my way to a better me.
Read more I’ve been seeing Ashley for about a month now at Thriveworks and I couldn’t be happier. She really helped me get back to person I use to be. I’ve had a rough couple years and she has me well on my way to a better me.
Richmond Jan 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Great scheduling service. Emma Denat is fantastic as a counselor. Highly recommend this practice.
Read more Great scheduling service. Emma Denat is fantastic as a counselor. Highly recommend this practice.
Richmond Jan 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
So far, everything with Thriveworks has been great - easy to schedule, easy to meet, and really finding great help all around.
Read more So far, everything with Thriveworks has been great - easy to schedule, easy to meet, and really finding great help all around.
Richmond Jan 2019
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Richmond is located off of Markel Rd, just south of Libbie Place Shopping Center. Our building is across the street from the Faison Center and next to Pandora’s Lashes and Coates and Davenport, P.C. Our office is in the Enterprise Center, which we share with Liquid Talent Agency and SIL Insurance, among other businesses.

Phone number

(804) 312-5498

Languages spoken by VA providers

  • Polish
  • 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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