Deciding between a marriage coach and a marriage counselor can be tricky when you don’t know the difference between the two. Both are valuable resources when you need help in your marriage or for pre-marital education and support, and it really comes down to which option you feel fits best for you and your spouse/fiancé. Here are some information to help you better understand the difference between both options.
MARRIAGE COACHING:
Coaching focuses on the present and moving forward. A marriage coach creates a partnership with the couples they coach and encourages them to take corrective action so they could have the kind of marriage they desire. It involves helping the couple better understand one another and move to creating effective plans about what they will do differently to get different results.
Marriage coaching focuses on equipping the couple with tools to learn the process of forgiveness, moving towards oneness in marriage, improving communication, resolving conflict, overcoming barriers, and improving intimacy. Coaches partner with their clients to identify the needs of the relationship and figure out ways in which the couple can meet them for one another. They recognize that each marriage is different, thus creating a process that is relational and personalized.
At A Purpose Driven Marriage, our emphasis is in equipping our clients to take their relationship from where it is, to where they desire for it to be. We strongly believe that couples don’t have to settle for a mediocre marriage, nor do they have to accept the fate of an unhealthy relationship simply because of their past or the family they came from. Marriages are meant to thrive and we show couples exactly how they can implement sustainable change in their own relationship so they can experience exactly that.
In Marriage and Relationship Coaching, we acknowledge where you are in your relationship; identify habits, patterns, and beliefs that have gotten you there; remove roadblocks that make you stuck; and teach you the proven tools and techniques, healthy habits, researched-based principles, and effective mindset that will help you to have the healthy relationship you desire.
MARRIAGE COUNSELING:
Counseling often looks at the past to help you better understand the present. Counselors tend to look at relationships from more of a clinical model and are trained to diagnose and prescribe. This process is often more formal, intensive; and is seen as a more extreme treatment to a marriage problem because it deals with mending relationships after an event or occurrence (although some coaches do this as well).
Marriage counselors have formal education experience in related topics such as psychology, social work, etc.; and are able to treat and provide clinical solutions to problems with addiction, abuse, mental health issues, and depression. These are considered uncoachable issues and should be referred to a licensed professional if encountered in a coaching session.
If you’re in need of help for your relationship, please feel free to book a free consultation to see if a Coach is right for you.