Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling

Abstract

In today's modern world Marriages, Couples and Family Counseling has become very important subject. The reason is the expansion of such counseling that occurred over the last few years because of the increase in the usage of this topic. The couple and marital counseling usually proves to be helpful to the couples, those people who are either married or unmarried, is useful for the identification of the problems, managing difficulties, and eventually plays a vital role in the improvement of the relationship. This paper aims to discuss the role of counseling in resolving problems between two individuals bound in marriage contract.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction4

Brief History and Development5

Marriage and Society7

Themes of Counseling8

Types of Therapies10

Elements of Counseling13

Counselor Identity14

Ethical Issues of Counseling15

Pre Marital Counseling16

Religious Values and Insights16

Conclusion17

Reference18

Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling

Introduction

In the world that we live in, an increased number of people are experiencing struggles with their lives. Family issues and problems have become common in almost every household. Some families face financial problems, some have communication issues and others have issues of violence. No doubt, these problems lead to troubles in marriages, which are mostly incurable unless properly addressed and analyzed. Over the last decade, marriage counseling has grown exponentially and people have realized how efficient a role in can play in solving marriage related problems (Nicholas, 2009).

Today, marriage and family counseling has become a science with extensive research done in its fields and a lot of data available for counselors to refer and consult (Smith, 2007). Many theories have been developed and many different forms of counseling have been derived to help couples reach the root of their problems and efficiently resolve their issues. Many of these theories prove quite helpful in mobilizing a family that is on the verge of disintegration due to problems. Even today, many people are unsure of going to a psychiatrist or a therapist for their problems (Nicholas, 2009). It is possible that people feel ashamed or feel it is against their dignity to visit a counselor for personal issues. In fact, counselors are not looked upon with the respect and given the appreciation that they actually deserve (Nicholas, 2009).

Previously, families and couples were skeptical of taking the help of counselors for their work but with the passage of time, perceptions have changed and people have accepted the help that expert counselors can offer (Gehart, 2009). However, in recent times, more and more couples are seeking help and guidance from marriage and couple counseling to save their relationship from being dissolved or spoilt. Counselors, on the other hand, now also use empirical theories and combine them with skilled listening and emotional analysis to reach the problem of a dispute and use it to resolve issues (Gehart, 2009).

Brief History and Development

Although there is no specific record of the first time marriage counseling was done, it is believed to have originated from Germany somewhere in the 1920s. In the 1930s, the trend started catching on in the USA and marriage counseling started to build its place ...