Couples who are having emotional problems in their relationships should seek advice from a marriage counselor. She can only give advice to heterosexual, legally married couples, and she can’t take on clients who are just cohabiting or who are gay, lesbian, transgender, or transsexual. Her job could be part of a group of therapists or she could have her own private practice.
A large number of counselors work in social service agencies and mental health centers, as well as in hospitals and clinics, to assist clients. A recent trend has been for a marriage counselor to provide therapy in her clients’ homes. This method is frequently thought to be beneficial because couples may be more candid when speaking in the comfort of their own home.
People who seek the advice of a marriage counselor have usually reached a stalemate in their interpersonal relationships. The counselor will usually assess the couple’s relationship by speaking with them individually and together to identify their specific areas of need. The counseling program is usually started once the problem has been isolated to the couple’s satisfaction.
In some cases, in group therapy sessions, the counselor gives couples advice. This setting is commonly thought to be a good choice for couples who could benefit from realizing how common some of their problems are. Couples may seek more private therapy sessions with the counselor as a result of group therapy.
A wide range of issues can cause marital problems. A marriage counselor is typically expected to be knowledgeable about these issues and provide a variety of viable solutions. In most cases, she is expected to be objective in her recommendations to each party.
A marriage counselor’s therapy usually focuses on her clients’ perceptions of each other’s behavior. The couple’s communication skills are usually one of the first things a counselor looks at. If she notices that the couple is simply talking to each other rather than listening or communicating their true feelings, she usually offers advice on how to improve these skills.
Initiating conversations with the couple about general topics and common areas of contention is another common counseling method used by marriage counselors. This frequently encourages them to reveal their deepest feelings in a non-obtrusive manner. Deep-seated needs, fears, and secrets are frequently brought to the surface during the exercise, issues that the couple had previously ignored.
To work as a marriage counselor, you usually need a master’s degree in counseling. A common requirement for this job is two years or 3,000 hours of supervised clinical field experience. To work as a counselor in many states, you’ll need a license or certification. Marriage counselors are typically expected to have empathy and discretion.