lundi 17 février 2014

Various Functions Of A Marriage And Family Therapist

By Krystal Branch


Family therapy refers to a form of psychological counseling which is done so that there is improvement of communication between family members. It also enables them to solve conflicts easily. It is normally short term and could include some or all members of the family. Marriage counseling is also known as couples therapy and helps different couples to solve conflicts and improve relationships. It is also short term and mostly includes both partners. When looking for the services of a marriage and family therapist, one should know their scope of work and what to expect.

People that go for family therapy mainly do so for enhancement of relationships that are troubled. The conflict may be between partners, children and parents or other family members. Some of the problems dealt with are marital and financial issues, conflicts between parents and their children and even mental illness and drug abuse. In the event that an individual suffers from mental illness, they would have to seek other forms of treatment in addition to counseling.

People that suffer from any form of addiction will be expected to undergo residential treatment. This is a way to enhance their recovery and to avoid outside influence. At certain times, other members go for therapy while the one suffering from addiction is left at home. Any situations that cause anger, grief, stress or conflict can be handled by the therapist.

In the course of therapy, members of various families will re-examine their ability to solve problems effectively in addition to openly expressing their thoughts and emotions. Roles of individuals and behavioral patterns need to be explored so that contributing factors of conflicts are reviewed. Identification of strengths and weaknesses is also achieved.

When it comes to marriage counseling, the therapists help couples in all forms of relationships; homosexual or heterosexual, married or not. There are couples that go for this form of counseling as a way of strengthening their bonds and gaining better understanding of each other. It is also instrumental for couples that are looking to get married. With premarital counseling, such couples will be able to understand each other in a deeper way in addition to ironing any differences they may have.

People that are married can also be involved in domestic abuse. In such instances, counseling will only be effective in the event that the abuse has not exceeded a certain limit. Otherwise, counseling alone would not suffice and the abused partner will have to contact the police. As such, the counseling will be done when the individual is safe.

The only form of preparation required for those that want to see a therapist is finding the right professionals. One may ask their primary care doctor for referral to therapists. Based on their experiences, relatives ones and friends may also give recommendations based on experiences they have. Recommendations may also be given by clergy, health insurer and state or local mental health agencies.

A marriage and family therapist is therefore an important professional. One should check that they have the right education standards. Checking their previous records will also give an insight on their ability to deliver services. Cost of their services will need to be considered too.




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