Tips for Choosing a Marriage Counselor

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Although half of all marriages end in divorce, most individuals don't want their marriages to become just another statistic. In order to work through marital problems that can't solve on their own, individuals should seek help from a marriage counselor. Individuals need to find a counselor with the proper credentials and desire to see their marriage succeed. If couples aren't happy with the first counselor they choose, keep searching until a counselor is located that both individuals are happy with.

Things You Will Need

Paper to write down credentials and experience

Budget

Step 1

Check Out the Marriage Counselor's Credentials and Experience. A good marriage counselor will have at least eight years of experience in the practice. Psychologists may have a range of credentials that follow behind their name. But how do individuals know what these letters even stand for? Psychology Today has compiled a list of acronyms with explanations of what they stand for. For more information about the degree requirements of a professional counselor, read about the requirements listed by the Pennsylvania Counseling Association.

Step 2

Find a Marriage Counselor who Specializes. If an individual's marriage is suffering because of a specific problem, find a counselor who specializes in that area. For example, if one's spouse has a problem with alcohol, find a counselor who specializes in dealing with substance addiction. Many counselors choose an area to specialize all the way from domestic abuse to infidelity. It's best to find a counselor who has a lot of experience dealing with the couple's main problem. It's also important to find a counselor who shares the individual's desire to stay married. Individuals don't want to see a divorce therapist because they are specialized in helping couples separate â€” not stay together.

Step 3

Find a Local Marital Counseling Professional that's Within the Couple's Budget. If the couple isn't fully committed to counseling, they will attempt to find a million excuses why they can't go. They don't want any of these reasons to be because it's too expensive or the drive is too far. Plus they don't want to end up fighting over the financial consequences of choosing a counselor who charges a fee beyond their budget. Some counselors will work with couples based on the length of sessions and frequency of appointments in order to accommodate the couple's budget.

Step 4

Ask for Referrals from Married Couples, Doctors, and Therapists. If the couple knows a couple who was having problems and sought help from a counselor to get past them, ask whom they would recommend. They can also search the websites of professional organizations to find a counselor nearby. Some organizations to look into are the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Psychological Association, and the American Mental Health Counselors Association.

Step 5

Don't Give Up Searching for Your Marital Counselor. If at first one doesn't succeed, try, try again. Finding a marriage counselor that both parties are completely satisfied with isn't easy but it can be done. If either spouse is uncomfortable, they won't be able to work through their problems effectively. After the first appointment, if they aren't happy with the counselor or feel that he doesn't share the same values as the couple; make an appointment with a different marriage counselor. Continue this process of trial and error until they find a marital counselor they are both pleased with.

Finding the perfect marriage counselor isn't easy but if you follow the above mentioned steps, you'll find a professional that you're both comfortable with and one that can help improve your marial relationship. Good luck!