Marriage counseling is a type of psychological counseling where a married couple meet with the psychologist, social worker or other type of mental health professional for counseling to hopefully heal their marriage. When one of the partners refuses to go to marriage counseling it is usually a sign that party is considering divorce. Marriage counseling can be seen as a type of mediation aimed at conciliation. Some parties who get divorce use a similar process through divorce mediation to determine issues like custody, spousal support and the division of property.
Many individuals refuse to seek counseling because of the feeling that they are admitting that their marriage has failed. However, many couples in successful marriages seek counseling to resolve difficult issues, to confront their own psychological problems within the context of couples therapy or to find a neutral space where they can work on their relationship. Some marriage counselors may meet with the partners separately before meeting with them together, or may even have individual counselors who meet with the partners and then have a group session with all the counselors and the partners.
Readings
Coppersmith, E. (1980). The family floor plan: A tool of training, assessment, and intervention in family therapy. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 6, 141-145.
Duhl, F. S., Kantor, D., & Duhl, B. S. (1973). Learning Space and action in family therapy: A primer of sculpting. In D. Bloch (Ed.), Techniques of family psychotherapy: A primer. New York: Grune & Stratton.
McColdrick, M., & Gerson, R. (1985). Genograms in family assessment. New York: Norton.
Minuchin, S., & Fishman, H. (1981). Techniques of family therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Perls, F. S., Hefferline, R. F., & Goodman, P. (1951). Gestalt therapy. New York: Julian Press.
Sherman, R., & Fredman, N. (1986). Handbook of structural techniques in marriage and family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Stuart, R. (1989). Helping couples change. New York: Guildford Press.
Some marriagecounselors will take their clients through the process in a way they best know how, and let the chips fall where they may. This can work well for some relationships, especially if clients are less emotionally stressed.
A marriagecounselor should be that safety net, where in times that motivation is absent, they will pull out all the stops to get you motivated, and to make sure that you see the program through to the final session.
Marriagecounselors who suggest strategies to make this happen are generally more successful at what they do, thus giving you the best chance of being able to resolve your marital problems.
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