Friday, February 21, 2014

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.

In case of addiction, the therapist will advise that the affected individual undergoes residential treatment. There even are instances when other members of the family participate in therapy without the affected individual seeking treatment. Therapists in this field will help in any situations that cause grief, conflict, stress or anger. Those involved will understand each other better and develop a closer relationship.

During this therapy, one will be able to examine the ability of the individuals to effectively solve problems, plus expressing their emotions and thoughts. Roles of families will be explored, plus the patterns of behavior so that issues that contribute to conflict are reviewed. The therapy is also a way to identify strengths and weaknesses. Weaknesses include finding it difficult confiding in each other.

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.

Counseling for married persons also comes in handy in the event of domestic abuse. This will however be useful when the violence has not escalated too much. When violence exceeds certain limits, such therapy alone would not work. Therapists will advice that the affected persons contact the police or the relevant authorities.

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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