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Marriage counseling is a type of psychological counseling where a married couple meet with the psychologist, social worker or other type of mental health professional for counseling to hopefully heal their marriage. When one of the partners refuses to go to marriage counseling it is usually a sign that party is considering divorce. Marriage counseling can be seen as a type of mediation aimed at conciliation. Some parties who get divorce use a similar process through divorce mediation to determine issues like custody, spousal support and the division of property.
Many individuals refuse to seek counseling because of the feeling that they are admitting that their marriage has failed. However, many couples in successful marriages seek counseling to resolve difficult issues, to confront their own psychological problems within the context of couples therapy or to find a neutral space where they can work on their relationship. Some marriage counselors may meet with the partners separately before meeting with them together, or may even have individual counselors who meet with the partners and then have a group session with all the counselors and the partners.
Readings
- Coppersmith, E. (1980). The family floor plan: A tool of training, assessment, and intervention in family therapy. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 6, 141-145.
- Duhl, F. S., Kantor, D., & Duhl, B. S. (1973). Learning Space and action in family therapy: A primer of sculpting. In D. Bloch (Ed.), Techniques of family psychotherapy: A primer. New York: Grune & Stratton.
- McColdrick, M., & Gerson, R. (1985). Genograms in family assessment. New York: Norton.
- Minuchin, S., & Fishman, H. (1981). Techniques of family therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
- Perls, F. S., Hefferline, R. F., & Goodman, P. (1951). Gestalt therapy. New York: Julian Press.
- Sherman, R., & Fredman, N. (1986). Handbook of structural techniques in marriage and family therapy. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
- Stuart, R. (1989). Helping couples change. New York: Guildford Press.
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