Seeing A Marriage
Counselor Is Not
Admitting Defeat...It's Admitting
There Is Hope
Many people seem to think that marriage counseling is a last resort when your
marriage is crippled beyond repair. However, the wise couple will seek marriage counseling as soon as they come to the realization
that their marriage is facing a problem that neither of them have the experience to solve. Because of their abiding love for
each other, they are willing to do whatever it takes to shore up the area of their marriage that was affected by erosion.
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Marriage Counsel Can Be Difficult __________________________________
Even though both spouses know that marriage counseling is an important step, actually feeling
comfortable with the counseling is a whole different story. It's often more difficult for men to seek outside help for
their relationships. They hate not being able to figure something out on their own. Men, by nature, are trained to be independent
and self-sufficient. They would rather learn from doing than from discussing. Therefore, it is more difficult for men to see
a therapist. So if the idea of having a male therapist makes a big difference to him, this would be good time to give in to
his request.
For men who are uncomfortable with the thought of a one-on-one session, many therapists
say group therapy is a good starting point. Sitting down in a group setting--usually with six to ten other individuals--can
address feelings of isolation and improve interpersonal skills. Men in our culture may have more fear of intimacy and revealing
emotions, and difficulty with empathy or with 'soft' emotions. By helping people share their concerns and fears, groups
can ease men past these barriers to treatment. Therapy groups with a narrow focus can be especially appealing to guys.
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Counseling Is Worth The Effort
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Remember, do whatever it takes to make it as easy as possible to seek counseling. Your efforts
will be well rewarded and you will realize that your journey through counseling not only helped resolve your initial concern,
you marriage relationship has broadened and grown to newer heights.
