What is Marriage Counseling?

Marriage Counseling is offered to improve the relationships of married couples. No one wants to continue fighting or arguing. As with other forms of counseling, marriage therapy is a way to give wedded couples a neutral place to explore their differences, build healthy ways to interact, and work to find solutions to disagreements.

It is important that the environment is safe for both spouses to communicate their concerns and be heard. Techniques from Emotionally Focused Therapy, Imago Therapy, Gottman Therapy, and other well-known, research-oriented ways of providing treatment help a marriage therapist work with a husband and wife to navigate the difficulties of building a healthy relationship. We provide this type of opportunity through our marriage counselors online through video or in our office in Augusta, Georgia.

When is it important to attend marriage counseling?

This question is often asked long after the marriage is in decline. If you are struggling with anything, it is a healthy decision to consult a marriage counselor. Whether you are feeling withdrawn, having trouble compromising on a disagreement, or just want to make sure you are connecting well, the decision to work on your marriage is never a bad choice.

Waiting too late will make the problem worse. The longer you allow a concern in your relationship to continue, the more difficult it will be to resolve. Husbands and wives would do well to at least call multiple counselors to see what they can offer. At the very least check with a marriage therapist to see if they think you should attend a few sessions. The reassurance will make you feel better and help you make the best decision for what could be a lifelong win for your marriage.

What should I expect when I see a marriage counselor?

Beginning Marriage Therapy

All counseling starts with building the relationship between you and your marriage therapist. They will want to know a lot of information about each of you, your history, your relationship, and more. During the first session, you will provide all this information to help your counselor understand what your marriage is like at this point.

You will also be assessing if your marriage counselor is the right fit. Be sure to let them know any concerns you have, and ask them any questions that will help you feel more comfortable. Research shows that the relationship between a therapist and a client is pivotal in the success of therapy.

Future Sessions With Your Marriage Therapist…

As therapy continues, you will work with your marriage counselor to keep track of your progress as you develop new skills, practice those skills, and process stuck points in your relationship. Some marriage therapists are passive and believe that you as husband and wife know best what you need.

They will help guide you in discovering your expertise in your relationship. This will usually help you to develop ideas that will work for you to improve your relationship and feel confident that you have the skills to continue to grow over time.

Choosing Your Marriage Counselor

Other marriage counselors are very directive. They give lots of tasks, resources, and guidance to help you as you journey through the process. They may also use processing to help you think through possible solutions together.

Many therapists are middle of the road when it comes to being directive or more passive. You will want to find which one you are most comfortable with. Once you work through therapy with your counselor by meeting specific goals along the way, you will eventually be able to stop therapy with the confidence that you will be your own therapist. You will have a whole new set of skills and understanding of how to have a healthy marriage that lasts through tough times to come.