Marriage counseling
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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. The handbook noted below is helpful in examining the different types of couple counseling that are available.
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
Gurman, A. S. & Jacobson, N. S. (2002). Clinical handbook of couple therapy (3rd ed). New York: Guilford.
External links
- Basic Techniques in Marriage and Family Counseling and Therapy (http://www.ericdigests.org/1992-1/basic.htm)