Marriage counseling helps a couple deal with conflicts, which may include communication issues, financial difficulty, emotional issues, infidelity, intimacy issues and problems raising children. According to Mayo Clinic, marriage counseling helps determine if the marriage can be rebuilt or if it is time to separate.
While many people and organizations may offer marital counseling services, not all marriage counselors are ideal for you. Finding marriage counseling that both partners feel comfortable with increases the chances of experiencing successful therapy as a couple.
Step 1
Request recommendations from other couples who have been through marriage counseling. Consider friends, families, coworkers and acquaintances. Ask what they liked and disliked about the counselor.
If possible, find out the type of issues the couple had that were resolved through marriage counseling to determine if you have similar issues. This will help you determine if the recommended counselor would be a good match for your particular marital issues.
Step 2
Ask your family doctor or other health care provider for marriage counseling referrals.
Step 3
Call your insurance company to determine if they have a counseling service as part of your health insurance policy. These programs often provide recommendations for marriage counselors in your area.
Step 4
Write a list of at least three marriage counseling services based on the recommendations you received. Call the marriage counselors to set up an initial meeting. The face-to-face meeting helps you narrow down your options to the best match for you and your spouse.
Step 5
Ask each therapist about her experience, qualifications, speciality areas, marriage philosophies and counseling methods. Outline the issues you are having in your marriage to determine if the counselor has experience dealing with couples with similar problems. Discuss fees, payment policies, scheduling and availability.
Step 6
Check on the licensing of each marriage counselor you are considering. Mayo Clinic recommends finding a marriage counselor associated with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Step 7
Choose the marriage counselor that has the most experience with your particular issues. Consider the gut feelings you get from each counselor, as well as the way each counselor interacted with you during the initial meeting.
