Are you or your spouse thinking of getting divorced? Have you ever wondered if you can save a marriage with a marriage counselor? Counseling is an important and potentially expensive step, so you want to know the differences between the options you have.
When looking for family therapists, you’ll want to know the credentials of anyone you’re considering entrusting with your marriage reconciliation. There are 3 basic kinds of professionals who do marriage counseling.
The first and highest category is a Ph.D. or Ph.D. in psychology. Most will use the title “Dr.” These college graduates went on to complete graduate school and write a dissertation. Many have also published a book or two. In addition, they have worked under the careful supervision of an experienced psychologist for a minimum of 3,000 hours.
These academic types will probably be the most expensive, and sometimes a little less “nice” with a delicate task like trying to save the marriage from divorce.
The next level down is the MSW or Master of Social Work. Social workers are trained to apply social theory to marital situations. Although they were trained in graduate school, they are less educated than a “Dr.”
Next, but not necessarily less competent for your needs, is the marriage and family therapist who probably only has a master’s or master’s degree (bachelor’s degree) in counseling or possibly more as some states require. This level is actually quite a growing field and the licensing requirements can increase over time.
Financially, this can be quite expensive, and if you have insurance coverage, you’ll want to check with the insurance company. They may tell you what level of professional advice they will cover and what limits there are on your coverage.
However, the cost should not discourage you from seeking marriage counseling. You probably have a friend or two who can attest to how costly and life-changing (in a bad way) divorce can be.
Different professionals will have different policies. You’ll also want to review each one you consider in these areas:
- Cancellation policy if you can’t hold a session
- Flexibility in scheduling a pre-planned event you have like a vacation
- Is he or she available for phone calls outside of sessions? outside working hours?
- Do they have a backup person in case you need emergency help when they are gone?
A family counselor could be the answer to keeping your marriage and family together and avoiding the pain of divorce and family division.
If it doesn’t seem to be working after a few sessions or if it doesn’t really “click” with the therapist, look into trying someone else. The counselor himself may even suggest someone he knows who is more appropriate for her situation or personality.
Professional advice may or may not be the right path for you, but at least now you know more about your options.
