How Helpful Is Marriage Counseling Near Me?
Just the prospect of talking to a stranger about your problems might seem overwhelming. Finding someone to talk to can be an even bigger hurdle. When you’re looking for help with your marriage or relationship, you don’t want to hire just anybody. You want someone who can potentially make a real difference in the way you and your spouse communicate with each other.
Not all marriage counselors have the same techniques or experience. So it makes sense that you would ask yourself, “How helpful are marriage counselors near me?” First, you need to understand how marriage counseling can benefit you. Then, you’ll need to equip yourself with information on how to find the best counselor for you and your spouse.
How Helpful Is Marriage Counseling?
Marriage counseling offers lots of benefits:
- It Can Help You Identify And Clarify Your Feelings.A lot of couples in crisis do not even know what their actual marriage problems are. For example, a husband with an anger problem may be struggling with an addiction or shame. A wife with control issues might be dealing with codependency or. A good therapist can help you not only as a couple but also as an individual.
- Therapy Can Aid You In Pinpointing Relationship Road Blocks.The core issues in the relationships can also be defined during therapy. Once your therapist helps you figure out exactly where you are struggling, you will decide on solutions.
- Your Communication And Conflict Negotiation Skills Will Increase.Most of the time, the solution involves increasing your communication and conflict negotiation skills. As a better communicator, you will also be a better partner. Every couple disagrees from time to time. But with your newly gained conflict negotiation skills, you’ll be able to fix things when you’re at home and no one else is around to help mitigate the issues.
- Therapy Can Bring Intimacy And Connection Back To Your Relationship.Less fighting and better communicating will naturally lead to intimacy and increased connection. This is one of the key goals of therapy and is often a benefit of couples counseling.
- Most People Leave Therapy Stronger And More Self-Aware.Sometimes marriage counseling doesn’t save a relationship. Even so, most participants who leave the therapy feel more self-, emotionally stronger, and self-aware. This in itself makes marriage counseling worth it, even if the relationship can’t be improved.
The list goes on and on. But before you can take advantage of all that therapy has to offer, you must find a counselor to facilitate the process.
Finding Marriage Counseling Near Me
One of the first steps a person takes on his or her search to find a counselor is finding out who is available nearby. You might set a limit on how many miles you’re willing to travel that works for both you and your spouse. After all, you don’t want to pile on the added stress of lots of time spent commuting to appointments if you’re already having issues in your marriage.
is one of the most important aspects of finding an appropriate counselor. If you can’t stick with the sessions, they won’t do your relationship any good. But keep in mind that choosing a couple’s counselor should involve more factors than just convenience, which is why it’s good to have options. Selecting a less qualified counselor could make your relationship problems even worse.
One of the best-kept secrets in marriage counseling is that you don’t have to commute at all if you don’t want to. Using an online marriage counselor allows you to expertise of marriage counseling professionals from a wider range of options. And you and your partner can still have sessions together, right at home or wherever you choose.
Helpful Questions To Ask
Asking yourself, “are there helpful options for marriage counseling near me?” isn’t the only question you should focus on when looking for a counselor. There are many things to look for when you’re selecting a marriage counselor for your relationship. A few of the most important are listed below:
Can You Afford Them?
Marriage counseling isn’t cheap. On average, a 50-minute session with a US licensed therapist costs around 100 dollars. Although the fee can dip lower in some areas, it can top 200 in others. Seeing a counselor every week can cost as much as a monthly car note, so you must find someone who can help you solve your problems and whose services fit within your budget.
If financial worries are a part of why you are going to couples therapy, to begin with, be sure to consider the financial cost of therapy. This doesn’t mean you should give up on your search for a therapist. Just make sure that you consider the cost of marriage counseling and find someone affordable.
What Is Their Specialty?
Psychologists and counselors are trained in many different areas of psychology. Some focus on mood disorders, while others focus on relationships. Some work primarily with children, and others focus on adults. Some of the clinics with marriage counseling near me also offer individual counseling services. All mental health professionals have strengths to offer their clients. You’ll want to make sure that the strong points your potential marriage therapist possesses match up with your needs.
This is one thing that makes ReGain such a great option for couples seeking solutions. Included in the process is a matching service that will link you with any counselor and the experience needed to help you overcome the hurdles you face in your marriage.
A Case Study
Eric and Jennifer’s experience with marriage counseling is in strong support of this first consideration. Before connecting with their current counselor through ReGain, they sought out a counselor in their area. Eric had heard great things about online therapy for couples. Still, Jennifer said, “I would just prefer marriage counseling near me over an online session” when Eric made the ReGain suggestion.
Right away, the couple realized they had made a mistake. Their counselor was a nice girl, but she was barely out of college. Most of her experience as a counselor was in a school setting. When asked, she admitted that Eric and Jennifer were the first married couple she had ever counseled. A few sessions in, everyone realized that the well-meaning therapist wasn’t equipped with successful tools or suggestions to help the couple solve their problems.
Through ReGain, Eric and Jennifer were matched with a counselor who had over ten years of experience helping married couples navigate issues like infidelity and lack of trust. It isn’t “marriage counseling near me,” Jennifer said when asked of her experience, “but our online counseling sessions saved our marriage.”
What Is Your Counselor’s Stance On Marriage?
Your counselor’s stance on marriage is something else you should consider. Is your counselor in a good long-term relationship? Are they married? Have they been divorced? These are things you should ask someone who intends to give you advice on your marriage.
Just because your counselor has been divorced or is single does not mean they are not a good option. But you should find out their stance on marriage. Do they believe that all relationships are reparable? Since counseling is all about finding ways to improve a situation, very few with a ‘this is over attitude’ enter marriage counseling. Near me, some counselors believe that with acceptance of responsibility and hard work, any marriage problem can be resolved. This is the type of support person you will need on your team.
Dr. Kathy McMahon, trainer of marriage therapists for over 30 years, suggests hiring a therapist with a take-charge personality. Still, the truth is, only you know the kind of person that will mesh well with both you and your partner. Good therapists are:
- Empathetic and compassionate
- A good listener and communicator
- A creative problem solver
- Both knowledgeable and ethical
- Is comfortable talking to all kinds of people
- Culturally sensitive and tolerant
Talk with your partner about what kind of therapist you think would be most helpful, and then try to find someone with those same traits. Having explicitly trained someone is super important, but so is finding someone who is relatable and a leader.
Referrals And Satisfaction Rates
Look for reviews on the specific counselor you and your partner are thinking about seeing. Find out if other couples are happy with the services they received and whether their marriages improved. Or ask people you know whether they’ve sought marriage counseling and who they would recommend.
Online reviews are a great place to look, but be cautious if only positive reviews exist. You want a well-rounded look at what a marriage therapist has to offer before giving them a chance. Whether you decide on online or local marriage counseling, be sure you research the counseling professional you and your partner intend to see.
You And Your Spouse’s Intuition
You do not have to stick with a counselor because you saw them once or even five times. If you or your partner feel like a particular counselor is not helping or is playing favorites between the two of you, then it’s okay to look for someone else.
This is about finding a way to improve your marriage, and that’s a pretty important service, so don’t be afraid to look for the right person.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does it cost to see a counselor?
It cannot be easy finding the right therapist or mental health professional to meet your needs. It may take a few tries to find a therapist who can provide you with the treatment options you need. Mental health care therapy costs can vary significantly depending on location and specialty.
There is a large variety of types of therapy and types of therapists. Some therapists work exclusively in marriage and family therapy, while others may only work with patients who have anxiety and depression. It is important to know which type of therapy you are looking for, which is largely dependent on what symptoms you are experiencing and if loved ones are involved.
On average, the therapy cost of a counselor will be cheaper than a specialty therapist or psychiatrist. Typically, however, you can expect to spend between $50-$150 per hour-long session to see a mental health professional in person. This cost can quickly add up, especially in the case of marriage and family therapy, where your mental health professional will want to see you as often as once a week.
In comparison, online therapy is significantly more cost-effective. For many, it is also much easier to find the right therapist online since you don’t have to worry about logistics or traveling to their office.
When you choose to work with a therapist online, the cost drops to around $60-$90 per month. With that, you get unlimited to mental health care and mental health professionals. You will be able to email and text your mental health professional as often as you need and will have at least one video call a week with them.
Additionally, you can find a therapist that you think will work best for you and will be able to understand best and treat your mental health condition. You will fill out a questionnaire, and based upon your answers and preferences; they will find a therapist for you. If you decide that you don’t work well with that therapist, the team will help you find a new therapist until you find a therapist that you work well with.
- What's the difference between a counselor and a therapist?
There are a few differences between a counselor and a therapist. The main difference is that counseling is typically meant to be a short-term form of therapy, and it tends to focus more on specific problems that a person may be facing, such as substance abuse or extreme stress.
In comparison, a person will find a therapist or a mental health professional to work with long-term for more severe conditions such as Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and major depression.
A good example of this difference is that most marriage and family therapists are considered counselors because they typically only work with a family or a couple for a short period of time until they can get back on track or until they decide to move on from one another. On the other hand, a person with Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or major depression would need to find a therapist or mental health professional that they could see for years. They would likely need treatment in some form for their entire life.
- How can I get free counseling?
For the majority of people, counseling isn’t free. However, there are hotlines available in cases of severe need that can help you in a crisis. While these are not meant to be long-term solutions, they can help save a life in a critical moment. These hotlines are:
- National Eating Disorder Association: 1-800-931-2237
- National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- National Alliance of Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
- Sexual Abuse Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
- Veteran’s Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
These hotlines can help provide aid in an emergency and help provide you with information and resources to help you find a therapist that will fit your needs and budget.
Alternatively, if you don’t mind your experiences and struggles with others, many support groups are completely free to attend. These exist for virtually any kind of crisis and experience that you can think of.
If you meet the need requirements, you may also qualify for Medicaid and state mental health assistance. You’ll need to call your state health department to inquire about this option. Finally, you may be able to receive free counseling through your church or place of worship.
- Is counseling free with insurance?
It completely depends on your individual insurance policy. Some insurances cover a wide range of therapy types and provide expansive mental health care, while others only offer the bare minimum required by law. To know for sure if your insurance covers mental health care and know what you will be expected to pay, or if there are any requirements that you first need to meet, it is best to call your policy provider directly.
- How do you pay for counseling?
First, make sure that you have spoken to your insurance and determined your eligibility and what requirements you need to meet. The first and best option is to pay for it with your insurance. If that is not possible, take advantage of FSA or HSA’s that your company may offer, or ask your employer if they offer an employee assistance program covering mental health care.
In the absence of these options, you will need to work with your counselor or therapist on how to pay your bill, if you can make payments, pay in advance, etc.
- How much does therapy cost per hour?
If you search "marriage therapist near me," you can expect to spend anywhere from $50-$150 per hour-long session once you find a therapist. Not all insurances cover therapy, so make sure that you contact your insurance provider to determine your eligibility and what your percentage of the cost will be.
The cost varies widely because all types of therapy require different schooling, study, and licensure to practice. For some therapy types, only a master’s degree is required. For the majority of other therapy types, a doctorate in psychology is required.
Another option for many types of therapy is online therapy. While it is not ideal for all types of therapy, such as those dealing with addiction and substance abuse, they are beneficial for other types of therapy, including those dealing with anxiety and depression. The cost associated with reputable online therapy is only $60-$90 per month, which on average is less than a single in-person visit.
It is incredibly important to treat mental health conditions early. If you are experiencing mental health conditions, don’t wait until they become so severe that they impact your quality of life. Reach out to our team today to discuss your options for therapy to help you find a therapist that will help you with a treatment plan.
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