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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffMarriage counseling, also called couples therapy, is a type of psychotherapy. Marriage counseling helps couples — married or not — recognize and resolve conflicts and improve their relationships. Through marriage counseling, you can make thoughtful decisions about rebuilding your relationship or, in some cases, going your separate ways.
Marriage counseling is usually provided by clinical social workers or licensed therapists known as marriage and family therapists. These therapists have graduate or postgraduate degrees — and many choose to become credentialed by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Marriage counseling is often short term. Marriage counseling typically includes both partners, but sometimes one partner chooses to work with a therapist alone. The specific treatment plan depends on the situation.
- Marriage and family therapists: The family-friendly mental health professionals. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. http://www.aamft.org/Press_Room/MFT%20Brochure%207-03.htm. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
- Marital distress. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. http://www.aamft.org/families/Consumer_Updates/Marital%20Distress.asp. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
- Domestic violence. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. http://www.aamft.org/families/Consumer_Updates/Domestic_violence.asp. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
- Marriage preparation. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. http://www.aamft.org/families/Consumer_Updates/Marriage_Preparation.asp. Accessed Aug. 20, 2009.
- Gurman AS, et al. Family therapy and couple therapy. In: Sadock BJ, et al. Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005:2584.
