Relationships

Ask Laura: The Right Marriage Counselor

How can I find a marriage counselor we'll like? I'm worried that picking one randomly from the phone book could make our relationship worse.

By Laura Berman, Ph.D., Parenting
 
 
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With at least half a million licensed therapists in the U.S., it's no wonder that finding a good one seems so daunting. Fortunately, there are a number of websites that can help you. The Family & Marriage Counseling website (family-marriage-counseling.com) lets you browse for counselors in your area, and e-mail or talk with potential therapists. Other good sites: Therapistlocator.net and Aasect.org, the website of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. Keep in mind that not every therapist is right for every couple. You might discover one both of you like right off the bat, or you may need to meet with several before finding a good fit. Schedule phone interviews with prospective therapists to get a sense of whether you'd like to meet with them in person. Hang in there -- counseling can help save your marriage, and the fact that both of you are ready and willing to work on the problems in your relationship is a very good sign.

Laura Berman, Ph.D., runs The Berman Center, a sex therapy clinic for women and couples in Chicago. Send her your questions at Parenting.com/momsquad.



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