Marriage Counseling - What Are the Costs and Who Should You Hire

Marriage counseling can be very expensive, but if it saves your marriage, it is worth it. If you think about all of the costs associated with getting a divorce, splitting up the bills, and paying child support, you may be surprised that the cost of marriage counseling is pretty minimal. Do not forget about those pricey attorney fees, those are not cheap at all.

Marriage counselors can cost between $75-200 per hour. Some insurance companies will pay for the counseling for you, so check with your insurance carrier. Some counselor will charge you a fee based on your income. And then there are ministers or preachers that specialize in marriage counseling , and may not charge you a dime, or base the fees on donations. Just recently, relationship therapists have started working over the Internet, so there is another option. As far as an Internet Therapist goes, I don't think I would go with this option, because you never know who is on the other site of your conversation.

Another thing to consider before choosing a marriage counselor is if they have some kind of policy that you have to pay for missed sessions. If you are planning a vacation, or go on business trips unexpectedly, you do not want to pay for something you are not receiving .

Find out about your billing options. Many marriage counselors require you to pay at the time of the service, while others may have a payment or billing plan. Many people find it hard to come up with the full amount at each visit, because not everyone gets paid every week.

You might also want to ask questions about how often the therapist will want to see you, how long a session lasts, and what kinds of treatment techniques do they use. Be sure to ask them about their confidentiality policies before you tell them a thing. Just because they are counselors or therapists, does not mean they keep things to themselves.

Lastly, do not pick the first one you find in the phone book. Most marriage counselors will be glad to have a consultation with you free of charge to see if they are the right one for you and you spouse, after all, you must feel comfortable with your counselor . Call several and decide which one you like the best. You can also call a minister or preacher to help you find someone reliable and trustworthy.