A marriage counselor is pivotal to facilitating the success of a marriage counseling session. A good marriage counselor can make the difference between a salvageable marriage and one that is perceived to be doomed due to irreconcilable differences. Therefore it is vital to know how to choose a good marriage counselor. But choosing a good counselor does not necessarily mean choosing the most qualified one. There are other factors in distinguishing a good marriage counselor from a suitable one. The couple must feel at ease in the presence of the marriage counselor. It is important that the couple feel at ease with all aspects of the marriage counseling, which ranges from the travel,
to the scheduling of the appointment and whether the marital status and the sex of the marriage counselor are of importance. In choosing a suitable counselor the couple must also enquire as to the approach used, and the setting of the expectations.
In addition, it is advisable to enquire as to the number of sessions required per week.
Financial aspects of marriage counseling
Once consideration has been given to these aspects then the couple should address the questions regarding the financial aspects of the marriage counseling, which must be established in advance. In discussing the financial aspects of the marriage counseling, it is important to also negotiate the possibility of any available discounts. Some marriage counselors offer discount if couples pay for a block of sessions in advance, also some therapists are able to offer concessions to those on income support. In determining the suitability of the therapist, it is important to enquire if phone consultations are offered in cases of emergency. There will probably be an additional cost associated with this so it is advisable that they are clearly agreed in advance. When discussing the fee, it is advisable to also find out if there are any cancellation charges, just in case! Some health insurance companies also cover the full cost of any counselling so it is
important to contact the insurance company and see if it is covered by the policy.
Qualification of a marriage counselor
A concerning factor is that, at the time of writing this article, there are no legal requirements for a practicing marriage counselor to be qualified or belong to any officially recognised bodies. It is therefore important that you seek a qualified therapist that has an extensive experience in marital reconciliation. In the United States of America, the qualifications that are officially recognised are: MSW (Masters of Social Work), who are Social Workers trained specifically to address
family and marital issues, MFCC (Marriage, Family and Child Counselor), who have graduated with a Masters of Science Degree in counseling and specialize in marital and family issues, MFT (Marriage Family Therapist), who have graduated with a Masters in Social Work with a particular focus on relationships, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), who are State licensed social workers with a masters or doctorial degree in social work, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and LMC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), who are licensed by the state to practice counseling. Some counselors may also have a PhD, which is a doctorate in psychology from an accredited college or University. After Professorship, the PhD is the highest qualification a counselor could have, but it is vital that the PhD is obtained from an accredited school, as it is possible to buy a PhD from unaccredited establishments. A qualified therapist should also be a member of either the AAMFT
(American Association for the marriage and Family Therapy) or be licensed by the State. The fees charged are usually reflected by the qualification and experience of the therapist, however, a more experienced therapist is far more likely to achieve quicker result, which in the long run equates to fewer marriage counseling sessions.
|
