We talked about some of the things you must do for marriage counseling earlier today. We also talked about what is asked of each individual as they participate in marriage counseling. But what exactly is the process for the counseling? What deters many couples from seeking out a marriage counselor is the uncertainty of how it actually works.
So, for those who have wondered, here is a breakdown of how the marriage counseling process works. Remember, not all marriage counselors are the same. But this should give you a feel for how the generalized process is handled.
The majority of marriage counselors require that both partners attend sessions together. Some counselors will work with one partner if the other refuses counseling. However, this is not an ideal situation and most counselors will tell you that you need to have both partners present. Both partners must be committed to the relationship. Both must be willing to attend therapy.
Because marriage requires both partners to be successful and to give up, counseling for a marriage is unlikely to be effective if only one partner attends it. That is individual therapy and while couples may undergo individual therapy hand-in-hand with their marriage counseling, the counseling itself requires both of you to be there.
So what happens in a therapy session?
There are no standard rules for a therapy session, however your counselor or therapist will not take sides. It is the goal of the counseling for the counselor to understand both partners and to help them understand each other while developing effective communication. It’s important to understand that every couple has good qualities. They may be focused on the negative aspects, but the counselor can help them familiarize them with those positive qualities once more.
It’s important to re-discover those qualities because they can use them to rebuild or strengthen their own foundation. Teaching couples how to listen to each other and look for reasonable solutions to their difficulties is the central focus of marriage counseling.
It’s important to recognize that marriage counselors are also family counselors. They can work with the whole family. You may seek this type of counseling not just because of arguments, but also because of difficult situations at home. There could an ill relative, trouble with communication between parents and children and even adult family therapy for adult families that are having difficulty with each other. Counselors offer a wide range of sessions and methodologies.
So if you are genuinely interested in seeking relationship therapy or marriage counseling, don’t hesitate to interview the therapist. Ask them about their methods. Ask them about how they handle their sessions. Ask them about their specializations. These will all factor into your decisions in choosing a therapist and a therapy style.