How to Find Qualified Marriage and Relationship Help
Finding qualified marriage help isn’t always straightforward. Couples often contact a therapist in times of distress and may decide to see the first therapist who has an opening. Unfortunately, many therapists who work with couples have not had any specialized training working with distressed couples. Here are a few tips for finding a qualified, knowledgeable relationship and marriage counselor.
Take your time
If you’ve never talked to a couples counselor before, you’re probably unsure about how to proceed. First, prepare some questions to ask each therapist you call.
Questions to ask on your first call
Many counselors have a general practice and work with couples on the side. While some may have couples or relationship training, others may have limited experience and/or training in couples counseling or marriage help.
Here are some questions you can ask over the phone or in person:
- How much of their practice is devoted to couples?
- What experience and training do they have in working with couples in distress?
- Why do they like to work with couples?
- What do they do during the first session?
Like any other professionals, some are better than others. The answers to these questions will give you some clues as to whether or not this counselor knows something about helping couples.
What happens in a couples counseling session?
During the first couple of sessions, the counselor should gather information about the relationship, begin to evaluate your situation, and work with you to develop a plan to get you the relationship help you need.
A good couples counselor will also exhibit some control over the session and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the relationship. They’ll also explain what makes a successful relationship and suggest some exercises you can try to improve your relationship.
Don’t forget, you’re also evaluating the couples counselor
It’s important that you and your partner feel comfortable with your couples counselor. Trust your gut. While it may take more than one session to determine if counseling will help your relationship, you should get a sense of the skill and experience of the couples therapist after just a few sessions.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the session have some kind of structure? Qualified therapists generally have particular things they hope to accomplish in the first session.
- Is the therapist active during the session? A couples therapist will interact with you, ask a number of questions, and gently guide the process rather than remain passive throughout. For marriage help, it’s important for the counselor to be active and directive.
- Does the counselor make recommendations for changes or give you some ideas for things you can do differently? Trained couples therapists are familiar with research on relationship help and will suggest things you can try in the session and at home.
- Is the couples counselor on the side of the relationship (as opposed to on your side or your partner’s side)? While a therapist may sometimes spend time focusing on one partner or the other, their primary goal is to help the relationship.
The answers to these questions will give you some clues as to whether or not you are in the hands of a good counselor very early on in the process.
What about privacy and confidentiality?
We are absolutely committed to the privacy and confidentiality of our clients. You can read more about your privacy rights here.
What’s Next?
- Learn more about Couples Counseling Associates
- Take a relationship quiz to gauge where your relationship is at
- Sign up for our quarterly newsletter, full of relationship tips
- Contact us to make an appointment or ask any additional questions you may have
More Resources for You and Your Partner
In our efforts to bring value to your life, or if you are not in the Chicago area, Couples Counseling Associates has developed a series of lessons that could have a major impact on effectively improving your relationship. We encourage you to dive into the series and discover how these resources can benefit you and your partner.
Remember, it’s the positive habits we develop that guarantee us success in all areas of our lives. Discover the seven healthy habits that improve relationships or get in touch with us to learn more about Couples Counseling Associates.
Click here to send us an email message or to make an appointment.
