MIDDLESEX WELLNESS & MEDIATION, LLC

What is "marriage and family therapy"?

 

A common misconception of marriage and family therapy is that it is only for those considering, facing or recovering from divorce or separation. While that is a part of it, there are many influences on individuals, couples and families at any given moment, and any that you can name would be a valid reason for seeking counseling.  Sometimes, pre-marital counseling is even required by places of worship or something proactive the couple decides to do.

 

Some believe that needing therapy means you're weak, unstable and incapable of coping.  They think couples counseling means your marriage is crumbling or that family therapy means you all despise each other.  It's true that many come to counseling for such issues; however, participating in therapy is not about labeling someone. Instead, it's about helping build tolerance to a situation, viewing it from a different position or preparing for change in a confidential, supportive and creative environment. 

 

Therapy can help those faced with common, every day life events such as the loss of an elderly parent, unexpectedly having to care for a grandchild, navigating the emotions when kids move out – or don’t, living with new family members like Grampa or blending of two separate existing families.  Everyone handles these and other situations differently.

 

Counseling can help with unexpected changes such as job loss, a tragedy; guiding couples preparing for married life; personal fears, understanding the actions and decisions of others, and addressing anxiety when preparing for a new journey like moving away, starting senior year or even buying your first home. The truth is that all of these scenarios and many others are actual reasons people turn to therapy.

 

Therapy offers participants the opportunity to face challenges, take action, and to learn to accept what is, and to do so in a healthy way.

Counseling can bring you to a place of peace and security; where negative moments, poor decisions and emotional reactions don’t define someone but can be a lesson in understanding. Therapy is not about falling apart but instead finding a way to pull it all back together.

 

Only you know when everything feels off, when you need someone to listen without judging, when you just need to

check in with someone who is impartial or even when you need a little something more. Often people don’t feel

they need or qualify for therapy because they feel their symptoms aren’t "that bad." For some, they want to seek

counsel as soon as they feel it so they can understand if this is a passing phase or something more permanent.

 

You will know when it’s time.  Why not come in and see if it is?