Same-sex couples are welcome to seek out a couples therapist if their relationship could use some work. However, it is important to know that not all couples therapists may be a good option. Here, several therapists explain how a couples therapist can help same-sex couples, and what you should look for if you are a same-sex couple looking for a couples therapist:
[fat_widget_right]Families seek therapy with a family counselor for many different reasons. Some members of the family may not understand the purpose of going to family therapy, or why family counseling is more effective when all members of the family unit attend. Here, actual therapists explain what family therapy is, and how it helps families overcome challenges they may be facing:
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[fat_widget_right]Many families seek a therapist because of a breakdown in their family system. This breakdown may be the result of poor communication, substance abuse, a major change in the family, or something else that causes tension. This may lead to verbal arguments, and sometimes a family may start fighting during a therapy session. Below, several therapists weigh in on how they handle conflicts that occur during therapy sessions, why they are completely normal, and how fighting can be used to overcome your family’s challenges:
[fat_widget_right]It may seem illogical to ask an entire family to attend therapy when only one member of the family appears to be causing problems or experiencing challenges. Understanding how a family dynamic can change when there is an imbalance, however, is essential to understanding why having the whole family in therapy might actually be the most effective way to help the family member who is in distress. Below, therapists discuss the role of family members in family therapy:
[fat_widget_right]It is common for a heated argument to break out behind closed doors when couples enter into couples therapy. It is nothing to be ashamed of, and it is the reason many couples are seeking therapy in the first place. The great news is that your therapist will be trained to deescalate the situation and he or she can teach you effect ways to cope with conflict. Here, several therapists explain why fighting in therapy under the right circumstances may actually be a good thing for your relationship:
[fat_widget_right] Many people find themselves in couples therapy because of communication problems. Therefore, it is common for one or both parties involved in couples therapy to enter into it withholding a secret they know will hurt the other. Therapists approach this situation carefully, usually by establishing a “no secrets” policy for couples in therapy. Here, several therapists explain the role of truth in couples therapy, and why it can be important to stop keeping secrets—even painful ones—from your partner:
Confidentiality is important for people in therapy to be able to form a trusting relationship with their therapist. Confidentiality is also important legally because it protects the person in therapy and the therapist in circumstances where they may find themselves in a court of law. Below, several therapists explain confidentiality as it pertains to couples therapy and couples that file for divorce:
Insurance is not typically required to cover marriage counseling.
Under the Affordable Care Act, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and other federal laws, insurers must provide equitable coverage for mental health conditions. This means they must treat mental health conditions like physical health conditions, must not exclude them from coverage, and must not charge higher co-pays for these conditions.
Insurance equity laws don’t usually apply to couples counseling. That’s because mental health parity laws treat mental health conditions as a medical diagnosis. The need for couples counseling is not a medical diagnosis, so it is not analogous to a physical health issue.
In some cases, an insurer might be required to cover couples counseling if the need for counseling directly arises from a mental health condition. For example, some insurers might cover marriage counseling for a person with a sex addiction or another condition that affects their marriage. Even then, it can be difficult to get insurance coverage.
Though plans are not required to cover marriage counseling, some offer it as an additional benefit. It’s important to read your plan documents to get a clear understanding of what is and is not covered. In most cases, you’ll have to choose from a pre-approved list of providers. You might have to reach a deductible before coverage kicks in. Or you might have to apply for reimbursement instead of paying a copay.
In some cases, employee assistance programs cover a portion of the costs of couples counseling, especially when marriage problems are due to a serious issue such as depression or addiction.
How Much Does Marriage Counseling Cost Without Insurance?
The cost of marriage counseling, like the cost of individual therapy, varies with the clinician’s skill level, geographic location, and training. Famous and well-respected therapists typically charge more. People who live in areas with high incomes or a high cost of living should expect to pay higher rates.
Couples counseling can be demanding work and requires a unique skill set. Therapists must protect both parties’ well-being, continually check their own biases, and draw upon complex research in numerous fields. For this reason, many therapists charge more for couples counseling than they do for individual therapy.
Without insurance, most couples pay between $75-$200 per hour. Some therapists offer sliding-scale fees based on income or discounts for buying multiple sessions.
Most couples see their therapist weekly, so the cost of couples therapy without insurance can quickly add up. The overall value, however, is hard to quantify. Therapy can save a marriage, preventing the exorbitant costs of a divorce. Even if a couple decides to split, going through therapy can save money by helping them communicate more effectively, potentially making it easier to divide assets and talk about child custody.
A person’s marriage can be a source of immense joy. It can also cause unbearable stress. Divorce and marital difficulties consistently top lists of life’s most stressful experiences. By reducing or even eliminating relationship stress, marriage counseling can improve quality of life. This can yield far-reaching benefits that extend to a person’s work, relationships with their children, health, and sense of self.
Will Insurance Cover Couples Counseling If My Partner and I Aren’t Married?
Because insurers aren’t legally required to cover couples therapy in most cases, there is no single rule that applies to unmarried couples. You will need to check your benefits agreement. In some cases, an insurance policy only specifies under what circumstances it will cover couples counseling, not whether the couple must be married. Some policies make explicit that the couple must be legally married.
If your insurer does not cover therapy for unmarried couples and you must pay out-of-pocket, the therapist should charge the same rate whether or not you are married. Some therapists may, however, charge different rates based on the number of people in therapy, since more people require more skill. A polyamorous triad, for example, might pay slightly more than a couple.
What Therapists Have to Say
[fat_widget_relationships_right]Depending on your therapist and his or her approach to couples therapy, sex may never come up. That, however, is not always the case. Sometimes discussing sex may help the couple strengthen the relationship and the therapist could suggest sex therapy if necessary. If sex is part of your couples therapy, rest assured that the subject will be approached with tact. Here, several therapists explain how sex is discussed in their practices during couples therapy:
[fat_widget_right]People considering therapy may be concerned about what they have to share with their therapist in order to work through the concerns they seek to improve, correct, or overcome. Popular culture has also helped create the misunderstanding that feelings are the only thing shared in therapy sessions, which is far from the truth. If you are wondering what you do or do not have to talk about in therapy, read what these therapists have to say on the topic:
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[fat_widget_right]We live in a fast-paced world where time seems like it is always in short supply. If you are beginning therapy or considering it, you probably want to know how long it is going to take before what you are experiencing and seek to resolve is worked out. The simple answer to that perplexing question is that there is no simple answer. Here, a few therapists weigh in on the amount of time it takes to see results with therapy:
[fat_widget_right]If you are considering therapy, or if you are about to have your first therapy session, you may be nervous, skeptical, or downright frightened about starting. Most people have a natural fear of the unknown, which may be contributing to your feelings. These mental health professionals share not only their thoughts on why these feelings are normal, but how beginning your therapy can actually help you overcome them: