You have made the decision to contact a marriage counselor. The next question is "How to choose the right marriage counselor?" The success of your counseling experience will relate directly to your compatibility with your counselor.
Start by asking friends and family for a referral. A great resource for finding a marriage counselor is an online directory. Searches can be performed according to city and specialization. Both http://www.counsel-search.com and http://www.aamft.com offer detailed biographies of marriage counselors.
Before you call a marriage counselor
Ask yourself why you are consulting a marriage counselor. Define your issues as best as you can in order to communicate them to your prospective therapist. Outline what you would like to gain from counseling. Is it important to you that a marriage counselor be familiar with the issues at hand? Do you prefer a marriage counselor that is married? Is it important that your marriage counselor has raised children? Do you have a preference as to a female or male marriage counselor? How far are you willing to commute to a marriage counselor's office? What hours are you available to commit to counseling sessions?
Fees
Decide what you can afford to pay a marriage counselor. There a several questions you may want to ask a marriage counselor in regards to fees such as:
How much does the therapist charge per session?
Does the therapist charge according to income (sliding scale)?
Is there a policy concerning vacations and missed or canceled sessions?
Is there a charge?
Will your health insurance cover you if you see this therapist?
Will the therapist want you to pay after each session, or will you be billed periodically?
Relevant Questions
Other questions to keep in mind while searching for a marriage counselor you are comfortable with include:
How many times a week will the therapist want to see you?
How long is a typical session?
How long does the therapist expect treatment to last?
What are some of the treatment approaches likely to be used?
Does the therapist accept phone calls at the office or at home?
When your therapist is out of town or otherwise unavailable, is there someone else you can call if an emergency arises?
Are there any limitations on confidentiality?
Credentials
Marriage counselors' academic degrees are different. The type of credentials may be of importance to you throughout your search for the right marriage counselor.
M.S.W.: Master of Social Work
Social Workers apply social work theory, knowledge, methods and ethics to restore or enhance the functioning (social, psychosocial) of individuals, couples, families, and groups, as well as organizations and communities.
M.F.C.C.: Marriage, Family and Child Counselor
An MFCC therapist has earned a Master of Science degree in counseling with a specialization in marriage, family and child issues. MFCC's are trained to understand problems from both individual and family systems perspectives; develop intervention skills; incorporate cultural, age-specific, and gender-respectful understanding in theory and practice; and handle clinical, ethical, legal and general professional aspects of their practice.
M.F.T.: Marriage and Family Therapist
A marriage and family therapist has earned a master's degree in social work with a particular emphasis on relationships. This professional is interested in who each person is within the context of their family, both past and present. Marriage and family therapy applies therapeutic techniques and focuses on issues of human development, communication skills, and interpersonal relationships.
L.C.S.W.: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The LCSW is a state licensure designation for practitioners with a master's or doctoral degree in social work. Clinical Social Work, a practice specialty of Social Work, utilizes social work theory, knowledge, methods, and ethics to restore or enhance the functioning of individuals, couples, families, and groups, as well as organizations and communities.
Make an appointment
Once your search has been narrowed to a handful of marriage counselors, pick up the phone. Most therapists will have a brief phone consultation with you and answer most questions you might have. The phone consultation is a great way to determine if you and the prospective marriage counselor might work well together.
Shelly Phegley is a staff writer for The National Directory of Family and Marriage Counselors found at http://www.counsel-search.com
Wedding receptions are not as formal as they once were,... Read More
Couples experiencing their first Costa Rica honeymoon vacations are never... Read More
In marriages, many arguments and hurt feelings can be traced... Read More
Preparing for a wedding, large or small, is overwhelming! A... Read More
When it comes to placing your new diamond in a... Read More
How much should you spend on a diamond engagement ring?$100?$1000?How... Read More
Through my personal & professional coaching practice, marital issues often... Read More
Whether you want to add a little extra romance to... Read More
Whether your wedding will be coming up roses, daffodils, or... Read More
"What am I supposed to have in my invitation?" This... Read More
Many happy couples are turning their backs on the traditional... Read More
Original gift ideas for your Bridesmaids and Bestman.What better way... Read More
Let's talk about writing love letters.Not candy coated pap. Not... Read More
Choosing a wedding anniversary gift that wows your husband or... Read More
Here comes the bride! Walking through the alley confidence holding... Read More
You've been engaged for months, you've made it through planning... Read More
With so many ways to ask your closest friends and... Read More
As most of you know the evening festivities for a... Read More
A couple should trust each other in many ways. When... Read More
The elegant beauty of a strand of pearls... Read More
A person's wedding can be one of the most important... Read More
Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In ancient... Read More
No one has as much fun as the bride to... Read More
Need a quick idea to dress up a mediocre wedding?... Read More
In theory, setting up a registry is simple. You decide... Read More
The extravagance of weddings is a popular topic. We blame... Read More
Have you ever wondered why your marriage isn't happier? If... Read More
He's popped the question. You've chosen a date. And now,... Read More
It's really not difficult to ruin what could have been... Read More
Looking for beach theme wedding cake ideas?When it comes to... Read More
You are engaged and one of the most important days... Read More
Homemade wedding favors come from a centuries old tradition of... Read More
This is intended as a guide to help you plan... Read More
When one thinks of a promise ring it is common... Read More
When people plan to marry, they expect to find in... Read More
You have purchased the latest bridal magazines from your local... Read More
Nobody, I repeat nobody likes a bridezilla bride. If you... Read More
These verses of Scripture from St. Paul are commonly used... Read More
Each of the dozens of Maui honeymoon resorts can be... Read More
Simply put, intimacy is more than sex or making love.... Read More
Ben* has been happily married for 19 years. He recently... Read More
Wedding catering has always been one of the most crucial... Read More
In our hungry-for-anything new pop culture world, celebrities are often... Read More
Your wedding flowers usually tie to your wedding theme. When... Read More
No one has as much fun as the bride to... Read More
My husband Bill and I have just had our 37th-wedding... Read More
Poets, sailors, honeymooners and other romantics have officially declared this... Read More
You're well into planning your wedding and have finally decided... Read More
Have you ever heard the expression, "The Urge to Merge"?It... Read More
The groom traditionally plans the honeymoon. However, most brides prefer... Read More
OK, so you have your heart set on the top... Read More
For a day you'll never forget on that special occasion,... Read More
That first wedding was a dream, a gorgeous long white... Read More
Symbols! Weddings are full of them. Exchanging rings. Exchanging roses.... Read More
Bless the bride... and God help the video maker. True.... Read More
What best way can a bride think of rising to... Read More
Make your upcoming event the most memorable ever by adding... Read More
Are you a Bride-to-Be? Wonderful! Congratulations! But what's that enormous... Read More
It used to be that if you wanted to buy... Read More
Your true love got down on his knees and asked... Read More
Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day.... Read More
Have you ever been irritated because your spouse does things... Read More
Celebrate your marriage by planning a Florida honeymoon vacation with... Read More
In Part One, we looked at what wives really want... Read More
The beginning of the journey of two souls begins with... Read More
Your wedding is nine months away and you decide to... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |