Marriage
Marriage Counseling is something that most couples can use at some point in their relationship. It should not be a last ditch attempt to save the marriage, but couples often wait until they are at the breaking point to pursue counseling. This is not ideal, but it is never too late to do counseling as a couple.
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We all know the statistics that state half of all marriages end in divorce. That statistic is only partly true; half of all first marriages end in divorce. Second, third, and subsequent marriages have a much higher rate of failure. One of the most common reasons that marriages fail is due to a lack of communication skills between partners. You may have heard that the number one reason for divorce is finances, but the finance issues are much more likely due to couples not having the skills to communicate effectively. The finances are a symptom of marriage failure, not the cause.
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Communication issues is also one of the main reasons that couples seek counseling. Overwhelmingly, when I ask couples to establish goals for counseling, they respond by wanting to improve their communication skills. Difficulties in communication affect every aspect of marriage. From lack of emotional intimacy to problems in the bedroom and from financial issues to infidelity, many of these problems would be handled much more effectively if couples were able to communicate with one another in a healthy and productive way.
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However, if you are experiencing any type of abuse in your relationship, marriage counseling will not fix the problem. Dysfunction of this nature requires a different plan of action with safety being the very first step. And, beloved, it is NOT in God's plan for you to be in an abusive marriage. If you are in an abusive situation and seeking help, please call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for assistance.
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One thing that many people do not realize is that in order for marriage counseling to be billable to insurance, there has to be an identified client within the marriage that has a mental health diagnosis. In addition, many insurance plans do not cover couples counseling. If you are unsure if your specific insurance plan will cover marriage counseling, a simple phone call should be able to answer that question. Simply ask if code 90847 is a covered service. But, again, even if 90847 is a covered service, one of the persons in the couple must have a diagnosable mental health disorder.
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The first step in marriage counseling is scheduling a consultation with a therapist. This is a free 15 minute call to determine if this is a good fit for both you and the therapist. During the consultation, the therapist will ask about your reasons for seeking counseling and answer any questions you might have. This is a job interview of sorts. It is your opportunity to see if the counselor is someone you would like to work with to meet your therapy goals. Feel free to ask about education, experience, credentials, licensure, and anything else that you feel would help your decision to move forward.
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I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia. As a Cognitive Behavioral therapist, I often give clients homework to assist them in moving toward their goals. I believe that combining Christian principles with research proven therapy techniques provides the greatest foundation for a healthy marriage. I have a BA in Psychology, minor in Communications from Wesleyan College. I earned a MS degree in Community Counseling from Columbus State University. With more than 15 years of experience working with couples and individuals, I offer both telehealth and in-person sessions.
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Are you ready to schedule a consultation for marriage counseling? Just click the button below: