Marriage is not a bed of roses. This is reality which many couples can attest to. But although there may be trials and challenges along the way, married couples need not easily give up because should you feel stressed out, you can always get help.
Families and friends can provide the support system to couples but other than them, there's a third party you can approach for professional advice. These are the marriage counselors and therapists who can provide the necessary guidance in resolving conflicts and other vital issues.
Seeking a third party intervention can be effective in helping save your troubled marriage. But you have to know that you can always choose this option as the first step and not just as the last recourse when serious problems occur. When you feel your efforts are not enough in resolving issues in your marriage, by all means consult a marriage counselor to get advice on the proper ways you can take to handle matters better.
So where do you start then? You need to search for an established and trusted marriage therapist in your area. Ask your friends, relatives or colleagues for referrals if you're new to this. Shortlist those referred to you and contact each of them to find out more about their services and fees. And once you've chosen a particular counselor, you may want to pay him or her a visit right away.
A good counselor should be able to tell you upfront what his or her experience is as well as other credentials such as academic degrees completed and programs or projects implemented. Licenses and accreditations should also be mentioned if possible.
An important thing to consider as well is how much you can afford. Keep in mind that these marriage counselors charge a certain fee and they may need you to attend several sessions to help you in your goal of improving your relationship with your spouse. So don't be shy to ask how much the therapist charges per session.
Costs can differ but the average is about $100 for each session. Some therapists may also base their fees on the client's income although the others can accept insurance.
Apart from the fees, don't hesitate to ask other questions to give you an idea on what's involved in your counseling. Find out how many sessions you will have, how long it will take and if this will be done on a weekly or twice weekly basis.
Feel free as well to ask about the treatment methods the therapist will carry out and the confidentiality of your sessions. The techniques that marriage counselors use can be limited to a single approach or they can also use a combination of methods to assist you and your partner in resolving conflicts and meeting each other's needs.
Marriage counseling means investing your time and money. It should be a way to help you strengthen your marital bond and make it last for a long time. If possible, your commitment to attend the sessions scheduled for you should be firm and consistent.
