Introduction
Table of Contents
When you and your spouse are going through a rough patch, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the situation. You want to make things better, but you don’t know where to start. If this sounds familiar, I have good news: there are plenty of resources available for couples who want to repair their relationships. One of those resources is marriage counseling, which can be especially helpful for couples who need help figuring out how best to communicate with each other or reevaluate their relationship goals together. But before you decide whether marriage counseling is right for you (or your partner), it’s important that both of you know what kind of counselor might be best suited for your needs. In this guide we’ll cover everything from what makes a good marriage counselor (and how they differ from other types of therapists) to how much they typically cost
Do your research.
Once you’ve decided to go ahead with counseling, it’s time to find a therapist. You can do this by asking friends and family members for referrals or searching online for therapists in your area who specialize in relationship issues like yours. You might also want to check out local universities or community colleges; many offer free counseling services through their mental health clinics.
When interviewing potential counselors, make sure that they match up with what your expectations are:
- Do their backgrounds and experience align with your needs?
- What is their philosophy of therapy? How does that mesh with yours? Will it work for both of you? If not, don’t worry–there are lots of different approaches out there! But if this seems too far outside what either party would be comfortable with, look elsewhere on the list until something clicks more easily between both parties involved (and trust me when I say there will be at least one).
- How long have they been practicing? While some people prefer newer therapists because they haven’t yet burned out from seeing so much unhappiness day after day (or even year after year), others prefer veterans who have seen everything before and know how best handle certain situations without wasting precious time writing down notes every five minutes just so they can remember later what happened during sessions…which leads us nicely into our next section…
Choose a counselor who specializes in marriage counseling.
Choosing a counselor who specializes in marriage counseling is important. Marriage counselors have more experience working with couples and are better equipped to handle the unique challenges faced by married couples.
They also have a deeper understanding of what makes relationships successful, which can help you identify areas in your relationship that need work.
Ask about the counselor’s training, background, and philosophy.
Once you’ve identified a potential counselor, it’s time to ask some specific questions. For example:
- What is their educational background? Is the counselor licensed by the state or province where they practice?
- What kind of experience do they have in working with couples who are struggling with relationship issues such as infidelity, communication problems or lack of intimacy?
- How long have they been working in this field and what has been their experience so far (i.e., how many years were spent doing supervised internships)? You want someone who knows what he or she is doing!
Look for someone who makes time to listen to you.
One of the most important skills a marriage counselor can have is listening. A good counselor will be able to listen to you and understand your point of view, as well as listen to your partner and understand their perspective. This may seem like an obvious skill for any mental health professional, but many counselors are not trained in effective communication techniques that allow them to truly listen.
A good example of this is active listening: a technique where the listener repeats back what they heard from their client so that there’s no room for misunderstanding or misinterpretation of information being shared between them. It also helps couples feel validated in their feelings by showing empathy toward those feelings–something that many people struggle with when discussing sensitive topics such as infidelity or money problems at home!
Finding the right marriage counselor can help bring couples back together
When you’re looking for a marriage counselor, it’s important to find one who is experienced in helping couples. A therapist with experience can help you work through your problems and bring you closer together as a couple.
If the thought of talking about your relationship with someone makes you uncomfortable or nervous, then it’s likely not going to be effective for either of you. You want someone who makes both of you feel comfortable while they listen and try to understand what each person wants out of their marriage.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you some ideas about how to find the right marriage counselor for you. Remember, it’s important to find someone who makes both of you feel comfortable and listened to. If there are any questions left unanswered after reading this article, please feel free to reach out! If you’re in need of marriage counseling in Overland Park, we’d be happy to help with anything related to finding a good match–from references or referrals all the way up through planning an appointment at our office.