Can Family Counselors Help Me?

family counselors

When a couple gets divorced, the children are almost always the losers in this scenario. While mom and dad go their separate ways and find a quick band-aid fix to their seemingly wretched situation, junior is crippled by the reality that his parents have decided that their welfare is more important than the child's welfare and that the family itself is little more than a game piece in a self-absorbed quest for gratification. More often than not, the powerlessness and despondency manifests itself as phobias, eating disorders, behavioral disorders, substance abuse, sexual activity, suicide, stuttering or acts of rebellion. The good news is that family counselors are available to minimize the trauma to both children and adults during times of upheaval or transition.

In general, a family counselor is skilled in an area of psychotherapy that helps parents and children interact, communicate, resolve conflicts, deal with emotions, understand one another better and forgive. Family therapy from licensed counselors can benefit families with marital problems, divorce, eating disorders, depression, substance abuse, work-related stress, credit problems, violence, parenting disagreements, grief or chronic health problems. Typically, families will attend weekly one-hour sessions with a family marriage counselor for a period of three to five months. However, if physical abuse, substance abuse or divorce is a factor, then the duration may be extended.

Sometimes family counselors are ordered by the legal system to deal with lawless adolescents or substance abusers as an alternative to spending time in jail. Couples going through a divorce may also be required to attend sessions with a family marriage counselor before their paperwork is complete. Family therapy has been extremely successful for parents and siblings of individuals with Schizophrenia, Explosive Anger Disorder, Bipolar or other difficult-to-understand disorders.

Primary care physicians are usually a good place to find referrals for family counselors. Health insurers, priests, friends, government agencies or the website of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy are other good resources. When calling around, you'll want to ask the licensed professional counselors what their background and formal education is, how much they charge, whether or not they accept your insurance, how long the sessions are and how many to expect, what the cancellation policy is and where the office is located.