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‘Counselling can help couples better understand each other'
‘Counselling can help couples better understand each other'

The Star

time19-07-2025

  • General
  • The Star

‘Counselling can help couples better understand each other'

PETALING JAYA: Counselling can provide couples with a safe space to express pent-up feelings through a neutral third party, says the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association (PPMM). Its president Muhamad Hisham Marzuki said counselling can be an alternative platform to help resolve problems within the family such as financial management, respect for each other, health, relationships between in-laws and issues involving religion and morals. 'On domestic violence, there are many factors that contribute to it, and not just the religious background. ALSO READ: Guidance for a stable marriage 'The issue can stem from family background, upbringing, financial constraints, environment and even exposure to social media culture,' he said. On the importance of existing pre-marriage courses for Muslims, Muhamad Hisham said it was to prepare couples for marriage and help them think maturely on decisions that will have to be made post-marriage. He said various modules have been formulated to help couples in dealing with family and household matters. The Archdiocesan Mental Health Ministry suggested that pre-marriage counselling help couples understand each other based on personal values, beliefs, individual goals and future planning. It said this was because both partners have to be aligned or understand where they differ to have a deep conversation about faith, children, financial planning, family roles and spiritual life. 'Pre-marriage counselling is very important as it helps couples identify differences, talk about expectations and learn how to resolve disagreements in healthy, faith-based ways,' it added. It said couples could attend counselling for communication breakdown, financial difficulties, intimacy issues or even personal mental health issues like depression or anxiety. 'However, it is imperative to know that the counselling process will only work if both the couple and therapist are emotionally open to listening and learning,' it added. Asked if pre-marriage courses should be made mandatory, it said that while it cannot be forced upon, it was highly encouraged as a form of investment into the relationship. The Catholic Church offers a course called the Catholic Marriage Preparation Course (CMPC), where couples attend courses for up to seven weekends before their wedding. Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism president Tan Hoe Chieow said having a compulsory pre-marriage course was not a 'guarantee' that issues being faced by a couple would be resolved. He said for non-Muslims, putting another condition prior to marriage might hinder more of them from taking the plunge. 'This pre-marriage course was brought up many years ago and we had rejected it as we did not know if it would be effective. 'There is also the question of attendance. 'So, we objected to it. But if a particular religious group wants a pre-marriage course, it is up to them,' he added.

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