Relationship counseling may be advertised under several headings: marriage, family, couples, ... . It is usually done by appointment with a face-to-face counsellor. Other methods of counseling may also be used: Telephone counseling, Internet, Proxy, Snail-mail, social work, community work, Pastoral counseling, television and radio shows ... . The persons involved in the counseling may or may not all be present at the time of the counseling. Usually one person is more motivated to the process than others, so ften the counseling process may be a legal requirement for one or more persons to be involved. Telephone counseling is a type of psychological first aid where a person communicates the counselor. ... Snail mail is a derogatory retronym (named after the snail with its proverbially slow speed) used to refer to letters and missives carried by conventional postal delivery services, and refers to the inevitable lag-time between dispatch of a letter and its receipt relative to the virtually instantaneous despatch and... Social Work is a helping profession focused on psychosocial problems, and largely (though not exclusively) concerned with disadvantaged populations, such as the poor, the disabled, the elderly, and persons diagnosed with mental illness. ... Pastoral counseling is a branch of counseling in which ordained ministers, rabbis, priests and others provide therapy services. ...

Relationship Counseling services in large cities may also specialized on the basis of sexual preferences, religion, funding-agency or other categories. Although there are professionally and formally recognized courses in most types of counselling, there is no guarantee that the immediate counselor is current with professional practices nor professional standards.

Couple counseling is a type of psychological counseling where a couple meets with the psychologist, social worker or other type of mental health professional for counseling to address the dysfunction in their marriage or other type of relationship. There is a great deal of research on the effectiveness of couple counseling. In general, it has been shown to help most couples who try it, but that many still go on to dissolve their relationship. A psychologist is a social scientist who studies psychology, the study of the human mind, thought and human behaviour. ... A social worker is a person employed in the administration of charity, social service, welfare, and poverty agencies, advocacy, or religious outreach programs. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Marriage is a relationship between individuals which has formed the foundation of the family for most societies. ...

Some parties who get divorce use a similar process through divorce mediation to determine issues like custody, spousal support and the division of property. Mediation consists of a process of alternative dispute resolution in which a (generally) neutral third party, the mediator, using proper techniques, assists two or more parties to help them negotiate an agreement, with concrete effects, on a matter of common interest. ... Child custody and guardianship are the legal terms used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and child, including e. ... In many countries alimony, maintenance or spousal support is an obligation established by law that is based on the premise that both spouses have an absolute obligation to support each other during the marriage (or civil union) unless they are legally separated, though in some instances the obligation to support... Division of property also known as equitable distribution of parties which is a judicial division of property rights and obligations between spouses during the process of the dissolution of marriage (divorce). ...

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.

The internet has added new dimensions to traditional face to face counseling. It is now possible to engage in counseling sessions with therapists in other states or even other countries via web cams, email and the telephone.

Most studies showing marriage counseling effectiveness do not provide parallel study of placebo groups or the improvement of persons with the mere passage of time with no treatment. A 1995 study by Consumer Reports with a sample size of over 15,000, while indicating some value in counseling by the North American consumers of these services, also indicates substantial dissatisfaction with marriage counseling. That is, marriage counseling was seen as the least effective intervention offered. (Many counseling agencies will not provide longer term studies of their work, and have no means of inquiry as to the marital status of couples in subsequent years.) Support groups, such as Alcoholic Anonymous were seen as the most valuable social intervention of all, by consumers.

Counseling or therapy that is reimbursed by health insurance in the United States, requires a diagnosis of mental illness. Psychotherapy methods rarely involve instruction to the couple, or to the husband or wife regarding specific methods to correct behaviors which have led to deterioration in the marriage. This void is being met by the marriage education movement which dates its beginnings to 1995. This movement, while not seeking to supplant therapy or counseling, sees nearly all individuals and couples, including unmarried, dating couples, as capable of learning improved relationship skills, from a variety of means, including self-study. Intensive follow-up at the University of Denver has shown repeatedly, that educational efforts, when presented by lay persons, can often be more efficacious than therapy given by pathology-bound psychotherapists. The numerous contributors: psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists comprising the coalition of relationship educators can read at smartmarriages.com

External links

• Basic Techniques in Marriage and Family Counseling and Therapy
• Does Marriage Counseling Work?
• How can one choose a good marriage counselor?
• Family & Marriage Counseling : National Directory of Marriage & Family Counselors
• International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors
• Directory of Marriage and Family Therapists in the US