Repair Your Connection with Couples Therapy Near Me

When we first fall in love, we think we have it all: the perfect person who’s the salt to our pepper, the one we always wanted. We envision flawless, happy futures, perhaps with a kid or two, perhaps not. We give each other endless promises and make plans in a way that builds our futures together.

Unfortunately, these rosy glasses rarely paint our situations in a realistic way. After all, two people make up a couple, and each person brings their own personality, flaws, and baggage. Even the most well-intended people end up hurting each other from time to time.

So, running into some obstacles in your relationship doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have a good and fulfilling life. In fact, looking into “couples therapy near me” can help.

Below, we’ll tell you a bit more about couples therapy and how to find it.

What Is Couples Therapy?

A couples therapist is a mental health professional who employs a series of science-backed techniques to help couples work through their issues. Usually, these people possess at least a master’s degree in some form of mental health work. Many also go on to get special certificates in handling different issues.

When you go to “couples therapy near me,” the therapist will likely ask that both you and your partner come together. Then, the two of you will discuss the situation with the counselor. A good therapist listens attentively to their clients and uses activities and questions/statements to guide the session.

But what if you’re thinking about ending your relationship instead of trying to save it? If this is the case, finding a good couples therapist still serves as a good option for you. A decent counselor won’t dissuade you from leaving your partner if that’s what you decide you need to do. In fact, some counselors end up agreeing with their clients that leaving is the better option for them!

Either way, having a counselor will help both of you look at your relationship from a more productive and healthy standpoint. As a result, you have the power to make the decisions you need to make.

Finding Couples Therapy Near Me

Now that you know what couples therapy is, it’s time to know how to find a therapist. First, you’ll need to decide whether you prefer online counseling or in-person therapy. Each option has its own set of advantages and drawbacks.

For example, seeing your therapist through a video call might be convenient for you and your partner, but the marriage counselor might not pick up on as many nonverbal cues. On the other hand, in-person treatment allows the family therapist to identify your nonverbal cues, but going in person might prove more inconvenient for you.

If you’re interested in getting matched with a therapist online, try Talkspace. This innovative platform allows clients to fill out a short questionnaire about why they’re coming to therapy. Then, the platform assigns them a counselor with the right experience and qualifications.

Look at Credentials

Before you schedule an appointment with a therapist, take a look at their credentials. As mentioned above, most therapists have a master’s-level degree in mental health. They also possess a license to practice, such as an LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist).

However, almost all counselors start practicing as part of the process of getting the license. In fact, all states require therapists to undergo 2,000 or more hours of supervised work after their graduation. Even before they graduate, they spend hundreds of hours at internship sites providing services under the eye of a trained and experienced therapist.

Usually, the providers getting their post-grad hours have an associate’s license, marked with an “-A.” So, a person who plans on becoming an LMFT after they get their hours might have an LMFT-A license. Pre-grad interns usually have titles such as “Clinical Intern” or even “Student Intern.”

For the highest quality of care, opt for an LMFT. However, if you want to save money, you can also look for an LMFT-A or Clinical Intern.

PlushCare works with many doctors and therapists who have the credentials to meet your needs. Become a member today!

Know What You Should–And Shouldn’t–Expect

One of the biggest predictors of successful therapy involves the clients and the counselor having a good therapeutic relationship. Many different styles of “couples therapy near me” exist, but all therapists need to exhibit kindness and active listening. They should always remain respectful of their clients.

Another to expect is that the therapist will keep the information you share confidential. Of course, there are some exceptions to that confidentiality. They are:

• A client reports they are planning to harm themselves or someone else.
• Someone reports the abuse of a child or elderly person.
• A court subpoenas the client’s records. This won’t happen unless you go through a legal process. Even then, the attorneys will only file the subpoena if they believe the information adds to the case. If this happens and makes you uncomfortable, ask the therapist to assert their privilege to keep the information confidential. In that case, the judge decides whether the therapist must honor the subpoena or not.

What should you not expect? Therapist ethical codes prohibit any kind of discrimination based on religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability level, etc. If you think your therapist has discriminated against you or your partner, you should find a new one and file a complaint with the state licensing board.

Your therapist also should not socialize with you outside the session. Most therapists keep their client relationships strictly professional. In fact, ethical committees have deemed friendships and other relationships (including sexual ones) between therapists and clients as unethical.

After all, the counselor would enter the relationship knowing far more about the client’s vulnerabilities than the client knows about theirs, creating a power imbalance. Too much proximity also impacts the counselor’s ability to remain as objective as possible about the situation.

Don’t Be Afraid to Shop Around

Therapy relationships share something in common with other types of relationships: either it’s a good fit, or it isn’t.

Unfortunately, no scientific formula for identifying whether you match well with a particular therapist exists. You can’t even tell by reviews because a great therapist for another person might not serve as the best one for you! The only way to know is to make an appointment and try it out. If you don’t like the counselor, find another one without worrying about how it makes the prior therapist feel.

Every therapist knows the importance of the therapeutic connection. So, they want you to find the person who will work best with you!

If you want to find a therapist who works for you, take a look at Cerebral. You’ll get matched with a therapist trained to address your needs. You can even switch counselors if you need to do so.

Start Working Toward the Life You Want

Finding “couples therapy near me” serves as a great resource for people who want to change something about their relationship. And the right therapist can get you both to the life you want and deserve. So, start looking for that therapist today!

Still, not every relationship deserves to be salvaged. Read more about toxic relationships here.