Marriage And Family Therapist

Marriage Counseling for Couples

Marriage counseling, also known as couples therapy, is a form of counseling psychology used to improve relationships and resolve conflicts. Although it is provided by many licensed mental health therapists and clinical social workers, some providers are certified by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, or the AAMFT.

While marriage counseling is often thought of as a last resort to save a marriage, this is not always the case. Premarital counseling helps couples evaluate their compatibility before taking their marriage vows and to better understand the process of working together as a couple. Marriage counseling may also assist couples who are already committed to establish a stronger, less stressful bond. In the case of troubled relationships, counseling can help couples decide whether to separate or to attempt to work through their problems.

Although therapists prefer to work with both partners, it is sometimes necessary for one partner to see a therapist alone for more in-depth therapy. In some instances, the couple may attend group therapy. Marriage counseling is frequently short-term, and the course of action is determined by the particular situation that a couple is facing. Couples do not have to be married to benefit from marriage therapy.

Some of the issues that couples therapy addresses include:

• Problems with communication
• Financial disagreements
• Issues involving sexuality
• Parenting conflicts
• Difficulties with blended families
• Addictions or substance abuse
• Financial disagreements
• Coping with loss, such as that of a child
• Dealing with mental illness in the family
• Infidelity
• Anger or resentment
• Domestic abuse

Marriage counseling is one of five core disciplines in counseling psychology, a field that involves psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. Undergraduate students are required to take special training in areas such as family systems, human development, psychotherapy and substance abuse in order to prepare for a master’s degree in this field. A graduate degree is then followed by an internship and two years of clinical practice.

Because of the extensive study required by licensed marriage and family therapists and the limited number of schools that offer these degrees, students in the past have been somewhat limited in their options. With the recent availability of well-respected online universities offering counseling disciplines, new opportunities are now available.

About the Author

Helping Psychology is your guide to learning more about the Psychology profession and the opportunities that are available in this dynamic discipline including Clinical psychology, Forensic psychology and PsyD Education sponsored by Argosy University.

Marriage & Family Therapy Programs

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