For Useful Marital Advice, Marriage Counseling Might Be the Answer
Written by: Steve Knight
Marriage Counseling from a Professional
For many couples seeking useful and effective relationship advice, marriage counseling under the guidance of a trained professional may be the answer they've been looking for but have been reluctant to try for a variety of reasons.
Marriage Counselors are Trained to Deal with Issues Experienced in a Relationship
When considering therapy for marital guidance and advice, marriage counselors are specifically trained in dealing with the issues that men and women most often experience in a relationship. The number of therapy sessions will depend on the individual couple, as well as the policies and practices of the therapist. However, the very first session is usually for evaluation and assessment purposes, and most couples will need to be seen once per week for three months, give or take a few weeks depending upon their progress.
Costs of Marriage Counseling can Vary from Counselor to Counselor
For dispensing their professional advice, marriage counselors may charge anywhere from an average of $40 to $200 for each individual session, which is usually an hour in length. Over time, that amount can quickly add up, however, in most cases, divorce is far more expensive, not to mention emotionally draining on everyone involved.
Some Health Insurance Covers Marital Counseling
If you're wondering how you'll pay for this advice, marriage counseling may be covered by some health insurance policies, although most companies will only cover the cost if one or both spouses are diagnosed with some type of mental disorder. To be sure, check your insurance policy guidelines or call their customer or member service number for more help.
Low Cost Advice for Married Persons
There are also plenty of free or low-cost avenues for those needing relationship advice, marriage counseling, or other types such as family therapy. Besides many doctor's offices, local clinics and hospitals, there are also community centers and organizations with resources regarding counseling workshops and seminars, as well as places to find individual and group therapy sessions.
Churches May be a Good Source for Low Cost Counseling
Many different religious affiliations along with non-denominational churches also have various forms of counseling or therapy for their congregation and members of the community. Additionally, don't rule out the advice from trusted friends or family members who may be able to offer their own words of wisdom, hopefully in a non-biased and objective manner.
Online Alternatives to Traditional Counseling
For many people who are seeking personal advice, marriage and similar issues such as sex and intimacy aren't topics they usually feel comfortable talking about openly with just anyone. Luckily, there are numerous places online to get reliable, helpful, and insightful advice about marriage, relationships, families, childrearing, and also learning how to cope with the emotional aftereffects of divorce.
Some web sites offer free advice or counseling, while some charge fees for private sessions, either through their site, or via email or telephone. Other sites have email courses sent out over a set period of time with exercises to complete before moving on to the next step. There are many licensed therapists who have their own web sites to advertise their services, but that also features numerous articles, exercises, and professional advice for all types of relationships and situations as well.
Some helpful advice marriage counselors can offer couples include:
- How to enhance communication skills
- How to fight fairly
- How to forgive and forget
- How to build trust
- How to overcome infidelity or dishonesty
- How to understand your partner's feelings from their point of view
- How to build the foundation for a healthy marriage
