Choosing a Calabasas Marriage Counselor
How to Choose a Marriage Counselor: A Guide for the Calabasas Resident
Equally important as your decision to go into marriage counseling is choosing the right marriage counselor. There are a number of counselors available in Calabasas, and you can easily get a hold one with a simple telephone call, but how sure are you that you’re talking to the right person? With your marriage hanging in the balance, would you be brave enough to entrust your marital problems to a total stranger? Before you take the next step, take a look at some of the things you need to consider before scheduling a series of appointments with a marriage counselor.
Step 1: Know Your Needs.
It is not always that we know for ourselves what we really need. However, we can start by sorting out or own issues and putting them into paper. What makes you unhappy? How do you feel about your marriage? What do you think is the problem? What are your expectations? These are some of the questions you should ask yourself before you set an appointment. Encourage your partner to do the same as well, so that when you approach a counselor, you’ll both know what to say.
Step 2: Ask for Credentials.
Whether you search the yellow pages or an online directory of marriage counselors in Calabasas, one of the first things you should take note of is the counselor’s field of study and experience. Why is that so? A counselor’s specialization may differ according to his degree.
For example, a degree in Social Work equates to clinical studies in both the micro and macro aspects of societies – from basic units like families and small social groups, to larger ones like communities and organizations.
A title of Marriage and Family Therapist (previously known in California as Marriage, Family and Child Counselor) focuses on the interaction of family members, and nurtures the development of relationships. Counselors who have this title are graduates of a master’s degree in family studies, psychology, or social work. They are also required to undergo internship and a licensing exam.
A Licensed Professional Counselor (also known as Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor or Licensed Mental Health Counselor), on the other hand, is obtained after a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, 300 hours of supervised fieldwork, and a passing mark in a state licensure exam. Parts of this study include appraisal techniques, counseling theories, and family issues.
These are some of the common titles and degrees marriage counselors have. If the counselor’s degree is not specified in the advertisement, you can try calling his office to ask for details. Be careful, there are marriage counselors out there without a relevant degree or experience. Some have attended seminars and workshops – but this alone cannot be compared to the full-length training a licensed counselor undergoes. Some also have specializations in the areas of family and marriage, while others are experts of a broader range.
It is also important to research on the counselor’s background, as there may have been complaints filed against him in the past. A complaint does nor necessarily equate to malpractice or bad service, but feedback from previous clients should help you understand the counselor’s techniques better. Try googling the counselor’s name, checking the state licensing board, or any of his available records in Calabasas. The bottom line is that you should know what you want and what you need by carefully studying the details of your counselor’s background.
Step 3: Ask for Concrete Details.
Communicating your expectations should be reciprocated by an orientation from the counselor. Once you have talked to him over the phone or communicated via e-mail, ask for the details on how the counseling will be conducted. You should ask for the length of each session, and what the frequency is. How long will the whole treatment process be? What are the fees to pay? What is their privacy policy? Each marriage counselor has his own techniques and viewpoints, and it would be wise to compare what one can offer to the other.
Step 4: Attend Your First Session and Observe.
After you have limited your list of candidates, attend the first session. Observe how the counselor conducts his session, and raise relevant questions whenever applicable. Try to evaluate how his presence makes you feel – it’s important that both you and your partner are comfortable with him. You must be careful not to confuse your being uncomfortable with your own flight tendencies though.
It would also be good to pay attention to the counselor’s action plan, too. By the end of the first session the counselor should be able to explain how he plans to work with you. This should also give you an idea of how your expectations will be met, and what goal you will be working towards.
Marriage counseling is not a comfortable endeavor. Most of the times, it is a painful journey, but when done right, these pains can become the foundation of healing. The tips above are just some of the things you should look into when choosing a marriage counselor. After all, your marriage is an asset that you should entrust to the right hands. Although counseling may not guarantee you the results you desire, you deserve no less than having the right person take care of your utmost needs. One marriage saved, one less unhappy divorce in Calabasas.
Marriage counseling…umm, not sure if it really works. I’d rather try to patch up with my wife on my own than to take professional help.