Posts Tagged ‘counseling for marriage’
Taking A Look At Divorces And Counseling
According to statistics, divorces are down. This is due in part because the economy is so bad that people have to stick it out just to keep their heads above water. The cost of a divorce is, on average, between $10,000 and $20,000. In fact, divorce has become a $28-billion-per-year industry that includes lawyers, courts and divorce counselors alike. To avoid the financial and emotional toll of this lasting decision, try seeking the help of mental health counselors, marriage therapists or credit counselors first.
Counseling for couples has prevented many divorces. Sometimes, the problem is that couples aren’t communicating their goals, desires, expectations and feelings adequately. By learning conflict, resolution and communication skills, couples can often obtain healthy and happy relationships. Licensed professional counselors bring years of formal training, rigorous study, experience and an impartial judgment to the table that a married couple simply doesn’t have on their own. Sometimes people aren’t even fully aware what’s bothering them beneath the surface-level conflict, so a marriage therapist will be helpful in identifying underlying stressors. Couples can learn to work through problems, forgive and get over the past.
Another option is to attend divorce counseling with mental health counselors, rather than attorneys. “Divorce counseling” is sort of a misleading term because it’s intended to smooth the divorce process, rather than prevent it. If you’ve tried seeing licensed counselors and realize that there’s no other alternative, then divorce counseling can help avoid an expensive and hotly contested court battle. Often divorced couples feel deep resentment over property or the kids, which can be avoided by seeking divorce assistance. With therapeutic help, couples can gain a sense of closure and prepare for their separate futures. They’ll gain help deciding upon property division, child custody/visitation, child rearing and coming to a fair agreement.
Abandonment, abuse and adultery are certainly grounds for divorces. Finances, intimacy and boredom are things that could be fixed through counseling for couples. Even though relationships are viewed as personal affairs, it can help to have an impartial party helping to uncover and resolve your conflicts. There are certain strategies for problem solving, expressing discontent and promoting a healthy relationship that trained, licensed counselors can offer.
Taking A Look At The Types Of Catholic Marriage Counseling
The methods used to strengthen the marital union, the cost of the services and the intention differ between Catholic marriage counseling and marriage therapists. While both types of counseling aim at rebuilding the marital bond, pastoral counselors will invite the couple to return to loving God’s presence in each other and focus on their core principals and values. On the other hand, licensed professional counselors look into communication styles, conflict modes and psychoanalytical topics.
One form of Catholic counseling happens before you even get married. Pre-marriage counseling is generally part of any Christian ceremony. Counseling for couples may be done in sessions, as a weekend retreat or as a group seminar. As with any other marital counseling, you’ll learn about conflict management, identifying wants or needs and strengthening communication skills. Often this opportunity is partially covered by insurance, with a small fee based on an income-sensitive sliding scale. The idea is that pitfalls can be prevented with a little bit of skill building and knowledge prior to tying the knot.
Marriage rebuilding is another type of Catholic marriage counseling that has gained popularity over the years. There are many reasons why couples fight, but one of the main reasons is money. Catholic charities may be able to assist a couple in acquiring food or getting help with their heating bills for a few months until they can get back on track with their finances. They can also preside over an open dialogue about spending habits, as well as short and long term goals. Other times couples may fight over child rearing, in which case pastoral counselors can remind us to return to God and raise our children with love and firm resolve.
There are pros and cons to choosing Catholic marriage counseling. On the plus side, you’ll be saving money, strengthening your marriage and learning to incorporate more spirituality into your life. On the downside, you’re often not being counseled by someone who has formal training in conflict management, communication, psychology or marital issues. The group seminars may not provide the type of personalized analysis you would like, so if you feel you’re in need of some solid solutions, then perhaps marriage therapists would be more your speed.