If you have never been to a marriage counselor before, there are seven questions that you need answered before your first counseling session.   I have taken the top seven questions that couples google and provided answers to these important  questions.  You may feel anxious and apprehensive before your first session of marriage counseling, and knowing these answers will allow you to focus on your history and goals during the first session.

i have been providing marriage counseling in Lexington, SC, showing couples the path to good communication and healthy relationships.  Couples often ask these seven questions about marriage counseling during their first appointment.  

 Let’s get started and answer your questions.

Question 1: Is marriage counseling covered by health insurance?

Many health insurance policies cover mental health. Each insurance provider and policy will have a unique mix of services and benefits. To ensure that the services you need are covered in your policy you can contact your insurance company or talk with a mental health professional.   If you would like to find a mental health counselor that excepts your insurance you can visit a providers online website or use mental health search engines such as Psychologytoday.com

Question 2: What is the success rate of marriage counseling?

Marriage counseling is often cited as only been effective 50% of the time, with newer therapies such as Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy being cited as affective up to 70% of the time. However, this figure does not factor in the many variables that contribute to divorce.  Some of the most prominent factors include: are both partners willing and able to work on the relationship, are there other issues in the relationship such as affairs or addictions, and do you and your partner believe the therapist you were seen can help improve your relationship.

Question 3: How much does it cost for marriage counseling?

The cost of marriage counseling can range from free (depending on the type of insurance, deductible, and co-pay), to over $300 dollars a session.  The most important question is what is the value I’m getting with amount of money I’m paying. Often the very best counselors are self-pay only and do not except insurance. These counselors have a high success rate but that also comes at a high cost to their clients. For those who can’t afford hundreds of dollars an hour for counseling, many excellent counselors do you take insurance. Towards the bottom of the price. There are counselors who have a sliding scale for payment, which is typically found at church is a nonprofit organizations.

Question 4: How do I prepare for marriage counseling?

There are several things you can do to prepare for marriage counseling. The most important factor is finding a counselor that both you and your spouse are comfortable working with and telling the intimate details of your life. Counseling can be very expensive, so you can save time and money by having a list of concerns and issues in the relationship and a list of specific goals you would like to achieve in your relationship.  Last, be sure to ask your counselor for any paperwork or forms that need to be filled out prior to the beginning of counseling. This will save you valuable time you may be billed for if you complete this during the session.

Question 5: Does marriage counseling lead to divorce?

Well marriage counseling does not cause divorce, sadly sometimes couples discontinue counseling and proceed with divorce.  This usually happens when one or both partners lose hope and no longer believe in the relationship.  

Question 6: When should you seek marriage counseling? 

Just like you would go to a doctor when you have a fever or sore throat, you should seek out counseling for your relationship when you find yourself unable to deal effectively with your current relationship issues.  Some of the warning signs that you may need to see a counselor include having the same argument repeatedly with no resolution, severe outburst of emotion for no apparent reason, when there is significant loss or trauma, or do periods of transition in the relationship such as new family members, blended families, or an empty nest.

Question 7: What does marriage counseling consist of?

Marriage counseling usually consists of an initial assessment that includes understanding the issues in the relationship and clarifying the goals of the counseling process. There should also be a discussion of treatment options to include a treatment plan which should be signed by the clients and counter.  This treatment plan will include goals and objectives, frequency of counseling, and types of treatment needed. Counseling sessions usually last between 45 minutes and two hours. Counselors often prescribe homework to be completed by the couple in between sessions. You should discuss the specifics with your counselor prior to beginning treatment.