Sometimes the root cause or cycle of dysfunction is obvious, but other times it takes a professional to illuminate the intricate dynamics of cause-and-effect, action-and-reaction.
Whether it is divorce, marital stress, anxiety, health issues, psychological problems or child-parent relationships that threaten to tear the fabric of the family bond apart, licensed professional counselors are prepared to help.
A professional who is licensed in marriage and family counseling is someone who is trained in psychotherapy and family systems, as well as someone who is licensed to diagnose and treat mental disorders.
counseling for couples
On average, family and marriage counselors will have thirteen years or more of clinical practice in their field and hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree in marriage therapy and family counseling. Since 1970, the number of marriage family counselors has burgeoned from 237 to 23,000, who are licensed in 48 states and are actively treating more than 1.8 million people.
There are many benefits of seeking family marriage counseling. In this safe environment, family members can finally express their feelings openly and honestly, without the situation escalating into destructive and hurtful shouting, physical violence or animosity.
Certified counselors can guide the discussion, identify problem areas and train family members in communication skill building and positive problem solving methods. Sometimes what needs to be changed isn’t always entirely obvious and it takes a trusted, impartial professional to help those involved to understand how he or she is part of the problem, rather than part of the solution.
Half of all marriage and family counseling sessions are one-on-one, with the other half divided between couple and family therapy sessions for maximum efficiency.
marriage therapists
A good way to find a therapist specializing in family marriage counseling is to check the website of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, located at www.aamft.org. Sometimes primary care physicians will be able to offer referrals of licensed counselors as well.
According to the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, family marriage counseling has demonstrated profound effectiveness in the areas of conduct disorders, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, eating disorders and understanding attention problems.
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