You walk into your bathroom and look in the mirror and have the sudden thought, “what am I doing here?” Your relationship started great, but you’re realizing you’re feeling completely disconnected and seem to have the same arguments over and over. And you have no clue what to do about it. You know you could use support, but there are so many options out there. How do you know you’ve found the kind of therapist that is best for couples counseling.
Couples therapy can be a great option for couples who are struggling. And there are so so so many couples counselors in Atlanta to choose from which can be a great problem to have, but also overwhelming.
I always like to start with two important elements to consider when looking for an Atlanta couples therapist.
1. How do you feel when you’re around your Atlanta couples therapist? You won’t know this unless you have a call with them and even still it can take a couple of sessions. But, it’s worth considering. Do feel heard and do you feel they’re working hard to understand you? Do you feel comfortable around them? Do you feel a sense of safety when you’re with them? It won’t mean the ideal fit understands you completley and that you trust them completely. That would be unrealistic. But what we’re looking for here is do you get the sense that you can trust them enough and feel safe enough to do couples therapy with them? You will be challenged. They will read a situation wrong. And when those things happen, is the Atlanta couples therapist a person that you can say “It really hurst to hear that” or “I’m not feeling understood”?
2. Is your therapist trained to work in couples therapy? Once therapists finish graduate school, they can begin providing therapy, but doing couples therapy without any formalized training isn’t a good idea. Instead, you’ll benefit from seeing an Atlanta couples therapist who has trained in couples therapy. A few therapist that I like are Gottman Method (backed by over 20 years of research), EFT for couples, and Imago Relationship Therapy. There’s not a one size fits all and most couples therapies can be a great starting place. Your therapist can let you know if their specific training isn’t a good fit for you or if you need something different.
There’s a lot more that goes into choosing a good couples therapist like:
How long have they been a therapist? The longer they’ve been in counseling the more experience they have. This doesn’t mean that newer therapist aren’t the best for couples counseling, it just means that more experienced therapist have a longer track record of treating individuals.
Are you okay with their rate? Different therapists charge different prices for couples therapy and so it makes sense to understand what you can afford for therapy, and if the best therapist for your couples counseling needs is in that price range. Sometimes really skilled couples therapists charge more, and sometimes they can help quicker. Sometimes they can’t help any quicker. There’s no exact formula for this so it’s a tough thing to navigate, but still important to acknowledge.
Do they or can they understand dynamics around your family cultural dynamics or spiritual practices? This may not mean they’re from the same cultural background as you. It’s more about, if they are not, can they quickly acclimate so you don’t have to spend five sessions just explaining your family rules and expectations or spiritual practices.
There are even more things to consider, but this is a great starting point. It can be daunting to find other kind of therapist who is best suited for couples counseling in Atlanta, and we’re here to help.
If you’re wondering if one of our therapists would be a good fit, feel free to reach out. We would be happy to answer your questions and point you in a good direction.
