What Does a Marriage Counselor Do?

All marriages have periods of joy and challenges. Many couples require the help of a marriage therapist to navigate especially tricky situations or to address underlying issues that impact the relationship.

This article will explore what marriage counselors do and how they can help married couples strengthen their relationships, even when faced with significant challenges.

What Does a Marriage Counselor Do?

Marriage counselors have the training, experience, and licensure to provide therapeutic counseling services to married people. Marriage and family therapists can evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions and psychological distress that affects marriages and family systems. They can identify and treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Anger

• Grief

• Self-esteem problems

• Relationship issues

• Self-harm

Family therapists offer premarital and relationship counseling, child and teen counseling, and counseling for separation or divorce. The goals of a marriage therapist include improved relationships, better communication, less stress, and more cooperation.

Counselors may also provide:

• Diagnosis and treatment of mental illness

• Psychotherapy sessions for couples, families, and individuals

• Preparation of treatment plans

• Communication improvement skills

• Interviews, observations, and formal assessments for clients

Marriage therapists may also spend a significant portion of their time filling out insurance paperwork or navigating insurance coverage for clients, especially those in private practice.

Recognizing the Signs You Need a Marriage Counselor

A healthy marriage takes dedication and work from both partners. While all marriages experience some turbulence along the way, some issues may indicate that you’d benefit from working with a marriage counselor.

Poor communication

Poor communication comes in several forms. You may experience frequent, intense fights that escalate into yelling matches, or you may live in silence as both partners suppress their feelings or live with unmet needs. A marriage counselor can help safely open up the lines of communication between partners and guide partners on how to solve problems together effectively.

Lack of intimacy

A lack of physical and emotional intimacy can signal deeper issues within a marriage. Rather than simply living with your partner, a marriage counselor can help identify and solve the problems that create distance between partners.

Major life changes

Significant life changes, such as the birth of a child, a new job, retirement, or a loved one’s death, can shake people–and relationships–to the core. A marriage counselor can help couples develop healthy strategies to navigate these changes successfully while nurturing their marriage.

Broken trust

Infidelity, addiction, and other breaches of trust can drive a physical and emotional wedge between couples. Partners may feel betrayed, hurt, angry, or guilty, and these feelings can prevent them from feeling committed to their partners. Marriage counseling can give partners a safe space to express and process emotions and provides skills that help to heal marriages after trust is broken.

Find Supportive Counseling in Denver

If your marriage isn’t as healthy as it could be and you need couples or marriage counseling, reach out to the caring team at Elevated Counseling today. Our experienced marriage counselors will work with you and your partner to identify and heal the issues that create distance, allowing you to move forward in your relationship as a team. Don’t wait for the help your marriage deserves. Call today.