Every relationship can benefit from improved communication and conflict resolution. However, many people are resistant because they don’t fully understand what goes into the therapy process and are anxious about what to expect from their first session. However, once you understand what to expect from a marriage counseling session, the whole process becomes much less intimidating.
This step-by-step guide will steer you through what you can look forward to in your first counseling session, from paperwork to continuing the work at home. Once armed with this knowledge, you and your spouse will be ready to find couples counseling near me.
Finding a Couples Counselor Near You
When looking for a marriage therapist, ask your friends and family if you feel comfortable. Working with someone who has helped someone you know is the most effective way to start from a place of trust and confidence.
Search professional databases that maintain lists of couples counselors near you:
- AAMFT
- NRMFT
Step 1: Forms and Policies
The first step in marriage counseling is the introduction and intake process. This process involves relatively straightforward and unexciting forms and other paperwork:
- Signing consent forms
- Going over the therapist’s confidentiality agreement
- If they take insurance (most don’t)
- Reviewing fees, payment methods, and payment plans
- Explaining the cancellation policy
Many practices, such as Colorado Relationship Recovery, have sections of their websites that contain much of this information.
Step 2: Individual and Couple Histories
With the paperwork handled, the marriage counselor will begin the process of learning about the partners, both as individuals and as a couple. Some questions to expect include:
- What were your childhoods and early adulthoods like?
- How was the relationship between your parents?
- How was your relationship with your parents?
- How did you meet your spouse?
- What was your early relationship like?
- What conflicts or issues lead you to start marriage counseling?
This step is to help the counselor understand both partners and their points of view. It also helps to build trust between you, your spouse, and the therapist.
It’s vital to be completely honest and open at this point. Therapy isn’t very useful if either one of you isn’t fully transparent or vulnerable.
Step 3: Goals and Timeline
You should start with a specific goal when you start counseling. What do you want to get from therapy? What does success look like? Some common goals for counseling are:
- Showing more empathy
- Rebuilding trust
- Forming a deeper connection
- Improving intimacy
- Resolve a specific conflict
The therapist will also work with the couple to set expectations for a timeline. The fact is, there’s no real schedule for improvement in therapy, but it’s useful to have a timeframe to evaluate progress.
Now that you understand what to expect from your opening session with a marriage counselor, you can feel more confident and less anxious going into that first meeting. Understanding the first few steps will help you open yourself to the process and make real progress toward your goal.
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