Christian Marriage Counseling

Where couples counseling does not have to be for married couples, marriage counseling is unique to couples who are married. Marriage counseling does not focus on the individual needs of each person in the relationship. It focuses on the presenting concerns and needs of the couple as one.

If the counselor believes individual counseling would be more appropriate, he or she will make that recommendation. Marriage counseling at Laguna Christian Counseling can be short or long-term, depending on the couple’s goals and presenting issues. The counselor will assess the couple together or separately, work together to make goals for therapy, and make use of interventions to help the couple reach their goals.

Couples will seek counseling for many reasons, but some of the main reasons are discussions about divorce/separation, infidelity, sexual dissatisfaction, unhealthy expectations of each other, financial struggles, parenting problems, communication issues, poor conflict management, and faith/values disagreements.

Christian counselors in Laguna will use different types of therapy such as Emotion-Focused Therapy or use The Gottman Method, and it is important to find a counselor who is experienced in marriage counseling and who can remain a neutral party in therapy.

A counselor cannot ethically tell a couple if they should get a divorce or make other decisions. Christian counselors will work together with the couple to avoid divorce if possible, but the final decisions on matters such as these remain the clients’ responsibility.

A couple does not need to wait until they are talking about divorce to start marriage counseling. Anytime is a good time for a couple to do marriage counseling because no marriage is perfect. Everyone could use support and guidance to grow in areas of weakness.

However, if you notice that you and your spouse are struggling with things like communication, conflict, loving each other well, being on the same page regarding different things, growing emotionally and/or physically distant, sexuality, and any other pressing concerns, it would be wise to seek a professional at Laguna Christian Counseling to help you come out of this season of struggle stronger and more in love.