| If you and your spouse have made the decision to | | | | therapy as well. Even if your children haven't begun |
| seek out marriage therapy, I congratulate you on | | | | acting out, it can be helpful to give them an opportunity |
| working to protect and preserve your marriage. It is | | | | to discuss with a therapist any concerns they may |
| often difficult to admit that you may need help but | | | | have. |
| there is no shame in using a marriage and family | | | | What is the cost of therapy? Do you accept my |
| counseling service. A good marriage therapist can help | | | | insurance? |
| prevent small problems from turning into big ones and | | | | A practical consideration when seeking out marriage |
| big problems from turning into divorce. | | | | and family counseling is the cost. Many insurance |
| However, it is important to find the right therapist. With | | | | companies will cover therapy as an outpatient mental |
| so many individuals providing family therapy services, | | | | health service. However, there are generally |
| you want to make sure you use someone that holds | | | | restrictions as to which therapists participate in the plan |
| the same values and beliefs as you. Here are some | | | | and often co-payments must be made. If you have to |
| questions to ask a marriage therapist before signing up | | | | pay for the service out-of-pocket, ask if there is a |
| for counseling sessions... | | | | sliding scale. Also, make sure you know whether you |
| What is your educational background? | | | | must pay in full at the time of service or if you can |
| According to the American Association for Marriage | | | | make payments. |
| and Family Therapy, licensed therapists should have | | | | Do you have experience with couples in our situation? |
| either a Master's or Doctoral Degree. If you are | | | | Every couple is unique as is every marriage therapist. |
| considering a therapist who is self-taught or who has | | | | Some therapists have rigid views and may not be |
| only attended a few marriage workshops, think again. It | | | | supportive of non-traditional situations such as a |
| is likely that they do not have the appropriate | | | | female breadwinner or stay-at-home dads. Others |
| education or resources to address a broad range of | | | | may not understand or accept a couple's views on |
| marital issues. | | | | birth control or family values. Explain your situation and |
| What percentage of your practice is committed to | | | | listen to how the therapist reacts. While it is good to |
| individual therapy vs. marital therapy? | | | | keep an open-mind to new perspectives on your |
| You will want to find a therapist who works mainly | | | | marriage, you do not want to use a counselor who |
| with couples. Marriage and family counseling that | | | | has a fundamentally different view than yours. |
| stresses working with individuals may not be the type | | | | Have you ever recommended a divorce? |
| of practice that will encourage a couple to stay | | | | This question will give you some insight into how hard a |
| married. Instead, look for family therapy that asks for | | | | therapist will work to salvage a relationship. If the |
| couples to attend together. | | | | therapist tells you that often a divorce is the only |
| How successful are you at maintaining marriages? | | | | option, consider using a different practice. While it is |
| If you ask this question and the therapist responds that | | | | unlikely that a counselor has never recommended a |
| almost all the couples he or she treats stay together, | | | | divorce to any of their clients, you do not want to use |
| this should be a red flag. Such a high success rate is | | | | an individual who makes it a regular practice. |
| at best an exaggeration and, more likely, an outright lie. | | | | These questions give you a firm foundation on which |
| According to studies, 70% is the average for marriage | | | | to select the right family therapy practice to help your |
| therapists trying to keep a marriage together. If the | | | | marriage. Once you have narrowed down your |
| family therapy service reports a lower percentage, | | | | search, also ask about the frequency of sessions, how |
| keep looking for someone more successful. | | | | long they last and how long the entire therapy is |
| Will children be a part of the counseling process? | | | | expected to take. |
| Tensions in a marriage can greatly affect a couple's | | | | With the right marriage therapist by your side, your |
| children. If you are looking for marriage counseling | | | | marriage can be saved. For more practical advice you |
| online, many sites will list whether the marriage | | | | can put to use today, click here. |
| therapist works only with couples or provides family | | | | |