Marriage counseling is usually a short-term focused treatment, while therapies are a therapeutic process that can last several sessions. You could even say that therapy for married couples encompasses counseling and this overlap is why they are confused with each other. Marriage counseling, or couples therapy, is a type of counseling that focuses specifically on marriages and relationships. Marriage counselors, usually licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) are specifically trained to help couples diagnose their problems and work on solutions.
Marriage counseling is a safe place for couples to discuss things and talk about what they really have in mind. Then there are cases where marriage counseling is nefarious and absolutely necessary in an effort to “save the marriage. A marriage-improving separation can be helpful if you and your spouse feel that the marriage would benefit from a time apart. While it is true that many marriages weren't meant to be couples who separate or realize that they are incompatible, for example, many marriages end because couples don't have the tools to handle their problems.
Definitely consider talking to a marriage counselor about this decision for more advice specifically tailored to your relationship. Whatever form of marriage counseling you are seeking, you need to make sure that the marriage counselor is someone you trust, who is positive, open-minded, solution-oriented, and treats both of you with compassion. If you can get the help of a marriage counselor earlier, or when the challenges have just begun, you're better off equipping your marriage to face the inevitable toughest seasons. There are no prerequisites for attending marriage counseling, and although there are some stigmas surrounding it, your marriage doesn't need to be in trouble seeking help.
Being proactive and going to marriage counseling before your marriage begins is not only healthy, but it also prevents the struggles that marriage inevitably faces. According to research by the American Marriage and Family Therapy Association (AAMFT), 98% of couples who try marriage counseling report that their therapists are “excellent” or “good.” Often, couples seek this service before marriage to better equip them for the difficult journey of marriage. Knowing that your relationship has some flaws, having the desire and motivation to address those flaws, and then actively seeking support from a marriage counselor, is the best thing you can do for your marriage. While marriage therapy is mostly focused on the present time and what is happening in marriage NOW, couples therapy focuses more on the past.
Marriage counseling aims to develop conflict resolution skills and the ability to understand differences in relationships, and to ensure that marriage is a step that the couple understands. Communication is key when it comes to solving marriage problems and marriage counseling is one of the best ways to improve communication skills, reach mutual understandings, and figure out how to move forward as a couple or amicably end a marriage, if that is the right choice for the couple.
