How To Find A Marriage Counselor?
If you are looking for a marriage counselor to help your relationship through a rough patch, you want to make sure that you find the right marriage counselor to suit your needs. Not every marriage counselor is going to understand your situation or be right for you and your loved one. In order to help you narrow down the options and come up with a marriage counselor that fits your needs, we have five tips to guide you in this process.
Ask For A Referral
Even though it might be uncomfortable to ask someone about a referral for a marriage counselor, this is a great starting point and one of the best ways to find a therapist that is effective and professional. Information from a reliable source, like friends and family can testify for the qualification and expertise of the therapist. Yet, it is important to remember that therapist that is good for one couples, not necessary is good for others, so make your own due-diligence and interview. You can also read online reviews and recommendations as well as discipline records with the licensing boards.
Make Sure That You Find Someone Affordable And Geographically Desirable
Financial concerns are important to any marriage. So, make sure you choose a therapist that is within your budget. Yet, remember that experience and effective therapists are generally having higher fees, yet they have greater return on investment. You also want to make sure that you have a counselor that is somewhat nearby. If you have a counselor who is more than an hour away, chances are that you might not always make it to appointments on time or schedule the necessary number of appointments.
Pay Attention To The Therapist’s Personality
If you are working with someone that you do not feel comfortable with, chances are that you will not open up and will refuse to speak freely. If that happens, you are not giving the counseling sessions the opportunity to make a difference. This is why you want to make sure that you have a marriage counselor who is both warm and accepting – someone that you connect and have chemistry with – someone you can trust.
Find Someone Who Is Specialized In The Challenges You Are Facing
You want to find someone who is a relationship expert. A therapist who specializes in couples therapy or marriage counseling. You can go even deeper when choosing a counselor based on your issues, if it is communication skills, anger management, overcome infidelity etc. You also want to make sure that the therapist is licensed and trained in couple’s therapy and marriage counseling and is always up to date on the latest information in the field.
Get A Licensed Professional
You want to make sure that you find a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a member of professional organizations devoted to couples such as The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT or MFT), The American Association for Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). Seek out a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). If someone is licensed, you know that they actually meet the requirements for obtaining this license.
