Premarital Counseling in Denton County
Rated 5/5 Stars
The hard conversations are easier before the wedding than after it. A few focused sessions to get on the same page about what matters most.
Licensed and supervised counselors
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In-network with most major insurances
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Lower-cost options available
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Rated 5/5 Stars
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Licensed and supervised counselors ✳︎ In-network with most major insurances ✳︎ Lower-cost options available ✳︎ Rated 5/5 Stars ✳︎
Getting Started in Three Easy Steps
1 - Reach out
Fill out the contact form. Either of you can be the one to reach out. If you have a wedding date, tell us so we can plan the sessions around it.
2 - Get matched
Our office administrator will pair you with the counselor whose specialty and availability fit what you need. If you already know who you want to see, let us know.
3 - Get Started!
Your first session is a conversation, not a test. You will talk about your story as a couple and what you want to sort out before the wedding.
What is Premarital Counseling?
Premarital counseling is a short, focused series of sessions where the two of you talk through married life before you are living it.
Most engaged couples have planned the wedding in detail and the marriage only in outline. You know each other’s coffee order, and maybe not how the other pictures money, holidays, or what happens when a parent needs care. That does not mean anything is wrong. It means you have not had a reason to talk about it yet, and this gives you one.
Sessions usually cover money and debt, in-laws and family boundaries, faith and values, whether and when to have kids, careers and where you will live, sex and affection, who does what at home, and how each of you handles conflict. Your counselor keeps the conversation moving, notices where the two of you are assuming instead of asking, and helps you practice disagreeing in a way you can both live with.
Our therapists are trained in several effective couples counseling modalities including The Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy. The same tools that help couples repair a marriage work just as well for building one.
Premarital counseling is not a test you pass or fail, and nobody is going to tell you whether you should get married. Couples usually leave with fewer surprises ahead of them, a shared plan for the things that matter most, and a better way to get through the first real argument.
It is also a good fit if you already live together, are blending families, are marrying for the second time, or come from different faiths or cultures. Those couples tend to have more to talk through, not less.
Couples Come to Us Before the Wedding When
You are engaged, or about to be, and want to start on solid ground
There are one or two topics you both keep avoiding
You see money, spending, or debt differently
You come from different faiths, cultures, or family styles
One or both of you has been married before, or there are kids involved
You grew up around divorce or a lot of conflict and want to do it differently
Wedding planning or family pressure is already causing arguments
Things are good, and you would like to keep them that way
If any of this sounds familiar, premarital counseling may be a helpful path forward.
About Us and What Others are Saying
Hi, I’m Ashley! I am the owner of Grateful Heart Counseling and we are here to help your family navigate through life's many challenges.
Whether it's anxiety creeping in, low self-esteem holding you back, or difficult changes happening around you, we can help you gain the skills and self confidence to overcome these obstacles.
Our counselors are trained in multiple evidence-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and for younger kids- the transformative power of Play Therapy. Together, we can start your journey towards healing and growth.
“Ashley has helped equip me with tools for parenting my son who went through a major change in his life. She listened, took time to give me materials, and helped me feel supported as the parent. I would recommend her for parents who have a child needing emotional support!”
“Grateful heart counseling is an excellent resource in the Justin area! Ashley and her team have taken a special interest in the play therapy population and know their stuff! This team does a great job equipping their clients with the tools that they need to succeed!”
“Ms. Smith has supported both myself and my kiddos through so many situations. She is enthusiastic to share ideas for solving everyday challenges as well as an expert in grief counseling, self-help, and executive functioning skills. I would give her 100/100 if that amount of stars was an option!”
Our Locations That Offer Premarital Counseling
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Justin Location
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Denton Location
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day.
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50 to 60 minutes, usually weekly to start.
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Premarital counseling is usually short. Most couples cover what they need in a handful of sessions, and your counselor will help you plan around your wedding date. You are always welcome to come back after the wedding.
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We try to get your first appointment scheduled within a week from when you call. Some of our Therapists offer appointments in the early morning, evenings, or on Saturdays to try to accommodate your schedule.
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Mostly getting to know the two of you. Your counselor will ask how you met, what you are looking forward to, and what each of you would like to talk through before the wedding. You do not need to arrive with a list.
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Yes, with the legal limits every licensed counselor in Texas operates under, which your counselor will explain clearly in the first session.
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No. We work with couples who are engaged, seriously dating and thinking about marriage, or already living together.
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Earlier is easier. Starting a few months out leaves room to work through things without wedding deadlines crowding in, but couples also come in a few weeks before the date. Tell us your timeline when you reach out.
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No. Most couples who come in are doing well and want to stay that way. Think of it as preparation, the same way you would plan for any other big commitment.
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Then the sessions are doing their job. Every couple has a few real differences, and it is far easier to work through them now, with help, than to discover them in year three.
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We are in-network with several major insurance panels. Lower-cost sessions are available with our associate and pre-licensed counselors. [Ashley: insurance often does not cover premarital counseling because there is no diagnosis. Is it self-pay here, and should we list a rate or a package?]
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Yes, for adults, anywhere in Texas.