If you and your partner struggle to communicate or stay on the same page, finding the right marriage counselor may help improve your relationship. A good marriage counselor can teach you practical communication tools or how to work through resentment that may be building in your marriage. If you’ve tried working on it yourself but keep hitting roadblocks, try marriage counseling. If the below doesn’t work, however, contact the divorce attorneys at Balekian Hayes, PLLC for assistance.

What Type of Counselor is Best for Marriage?

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If you are dealing with marital issues for the first time, you may wonder what to look for in a marriage counselor. The best counselor will be someone you and your spouse connect with and trust. Some counselors have specific training for marriage and family counseling, which may be beneficial. 

So, what are the qualifications to look for in a marriage counselor? Counselors certified in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) are types of counselors that help married couples. Some counselors even have both certifications, an ideal combination when looking for someone to assist with relationship concerns involving communication, trust, and infidelity. 

In other circumstances, a counselor with different qualifications may be the right fit for you. For example, if one person suffers from a mental health diagnosis, working with a psychologist or psychiatrist with a background in treating that condition might be helpful. 

Regardless of who you ultimately decide to hire to help you work through your issues, be sure to take the time and effort to research the right type of marriage counselor for you. Consider their training, qualifications, and experience. Many counselors provide the opportunity for an introductory meeting or phone call to help people decide whether they would be a good fit. Finding the marriage counselor that is best suited to help you will save time and put you on the path to healing sooner. 

Is Marriage Counseling the Same as Couples Therapy?

There are many similarities between marriage counseling and couples therapy. Although people often use the terms “marriage counseling” and “couples therapy” interchangeably, they often have different approaches. Marriage counseling typically focuses on the present and the current challenges the married couple face. On the other hand, couples therapy may also consider a couple’s history and past challenges to get to the root of the problem.

Couples therapy is helpful for couples who need to break unhealthy patterns of relating to strengthen their relationship. Through treatment, the couple works with a therapist to identify the factors and circumstances contributing to the conflict in their relationship. Specifically, couples therapy can help people: 

• Address why they may be struggling
• Tackle the root cause of their issues 
• Help them work past prior arguments and conflicts 
• Identify areas of their relationship that may need attention 
• Learn how to communicate effectively 
• Develop conflict resolution tools 

Marriage counseling is forward-thinking and may be short-term and less formal. It is a proactive approach that may help couples work through current issues and prepare for future challenges. A marriage counselor can help people: 

• Get their relationship on track 
• Focus on the present 
• Learn how to face struggles together 
• Provide an opportunity to talk through differences 
• Build a strong foundation 
• Mend trust 

How Do I Get the Best Out of Marriage Counseling?

If marriage counseling is the last resort to saving your marriage, you want to make the most of the time with the counselor. Consider the following tips on how to find a good marriage counselor and get the best out of your marriage counseling: 

• Be clear about your goals – Before sitting down with the counselor for the first time, you and your spouse should discuss the problems as you see them and your goals for counseling. Identify the issues in the relationship, not the issues with your spouse. 
• Be willing to do the work – If your counselor gives you homework, whether reading, exercises, or communication guidance, make sure you do it. To make the most of the time with your counselor, you should note any improvements in the relationship based on their suggestions. Do the work so you can report how it may have helped. This will allow your counselor to tailor their guidance to your unique situation.  
• Work on yourself – Marriage counseling requires a fair amount of self-assessment and reflection. While it is easy to point the finger at the other person, chances are you have some areas of improvement in your life that could contribute to a successful resolution. To improve your relationship, you must be willing to change yourself and how you relate to your spouse.

Is Couples Counseling Worth It?

Yes, it is worth it if you want to try to save your marriage. Couples counseling may remind you why you married your spouse and why your marriage is worth working on.  

Marriage counseling differs from individual counseling because it is about the relationship, not just you. If you seek marriage counseling, your counselor will offer guidance on how to make the relationship work. It is not a quick fix to your spouse’s behavior. Instead, it is an opportunity for both of you to work together to create a successful marriage. Your counselor will identify areas of improvement for both parties as they examine the dynamics of your relationship. They will ask how you think you can modify your behaviors and offer suggestions and feedback about making changes to benefit the marriage. 

Couples counseling is an opportunity for personal growth. It is worth the effort if you want to stay in the marriage. If it doesn’t work out, you do not stay in the marriage; it can still offer valuable tools that may be helpful in your next relationship. 

If Counseling Doesn’t Work, Contact Our Dallas Divorce Lawyers Today

If you try couples counseling but it does not yield the results you may have expected, it may be time to get in touch with an experienced divorce attorney in Dallas, Texas, today. You can schedule a consultation with Balekian Hayes, PLLC to learn how we can help you navigate divorce, custody, and other family law matters.