Important Questions to Ask During Couples Consultations shouldn’t be confusing! Finding the right therapist can be a job in itself! There are so many great therapists in Denver to choose from, all with a variety of experience, training and expertise. One of the best ways to find a good couples therapist is to ask your friends and family. This may be tough if people are private about having seen a marriage therapist, but a trusted referral for a therapist can be a great way to start.
Barring a personal referral from a friend or family member, there are a number of great directories that can help you find your therapist. Make sure to narrow your search with location, specialty, and years of experience. Using search words such as couples, marriage, relationship, divorce, discernment counseling, and sex therapy are all good ways to fine tune your search.
Here are some directories that can help you find your Denver Couples Therapist:
Psychology Today
Denver Therapist Network
TherapyDen
Luckily, most therapists will offer a complimentary phone consult to help you get a sense of if they are the right therapist for you. What should you expect during this call? Here are some questions to ask when trying to find the right couples counselor for you and your partner:
- How long have you been working with couples?
- What makes you qualified to work with couples? What is your training in couples counseling?
- How do you work with couples in session? Are you active, passive, will you tell me what to do (or not do)?
- Do you take sides?
- Why do you do this work? Why are you passionate about couples therapy?
- If in a relationship currently, how long have you been in your current relationship/marriage and what have you learned from your relationships that inform the work you do?
- How do you manage conflict/yelling/fights in session?
- Will you see each of us by ourselves for individual sessions without our partner?
- Are you pro-marriage?
- How do you feel about ________? Fill in the blank with anything that you’d like to cover. Open marriages, sexless marriages, separation, divorce, second/third marriages and the how to of blended families, etc.
- Any other questions that will help put you at ease and help you make the important decision of finding the right couples counselor for your relationship.
Asking these questions will help you get a sense of how I work and if I’m going to “get” you. Having confidence in your therapists’ knowledge and effectiveness is so important to the process and for positive outcomes.
