Your Marriage Counselor: The Third Wheel

The goal of marriage counseling is to find out why you're both suffering in an unhappy relationship and what each of you can do to make it happy again. Once you've arrived at the decision of entering couples therapy, Cary, NC is convenient to a number of marriage counselors with years of successful experience--it shouldn't be difficult to find one you're comfortable with. It's ok to scrutinize though, you want to find the person who will be consistently adept at helping with your specific needs as a couple. That said, there are a few good ways to find the right marriage counselor or family therapist.
First and foremost, don't be afraid to ask around amongst close friends and family members. Good recommendations are generally the best way to find what you're looking for--from therapists to tree surgeons. The people you trust make for much better marketing than giant Yellow Pages ads. Secondly, seek out referrals. These don't need to be "official" referrals or written prescriptions, merely suggestions from professionals whom you trust--your family doctor, for instance. You can also check local and regional psychological associations for qualified counselors in your area.
While the recommendations of family and friends are preferred, perhaps you're new to an area and don't know anyone very well. This is when it's reasonable to turn to Google or the Yellow Pages. Internet searches are usually highly effective as many therapists now have websites that have all the information you need. I live in Raleigh, NC, so I would probably search for "marriage counseling Raleigh NC" or "Raleigh NC marriage counselors."
When you do find someone who seems to meet your expectations, find out a little more about them before diving into your problems. Lots of therapists have their background information on their website, but feel free to inquire further in person. Make sure you know what kind of training and experience they have. Find out their philosophical and therapeutic approach to repairing unhappy marriages. Good counselors will be happy to provide you with anything you want to know about their experience and education in relationship counseling.
If you find that your new therapist just isn't working for you, don't hesitate to look for someone else right away. Remaining with someone you're uncomfortable with is a waste of money and valuable healing time as a couple. A good marriage counselor should be able to help you move beyond current conflicts while learning to handle future ones. When you find the right therapeutic situation for you and your spouse, you can finally begin healing.

Written by Kacy Suther. Raleigh NC marriage counseling is provided by marriage counselors in Raleigh NC at Jeff Levy’s office for relationship counseling. Raleigh NC, Apex, Cary North Carolina served. More info at http://www.couplescounseling.com .