"We view marriage and family as creations of God. Therefore, they are sacred and worthy of commitment, honor, and sacrifice."
W.K. Boyce, Executive Director
It's interesting to consider how many people avoid marriage counseling because they don't want family and friends to know that they are having problems. Yet, these people overlook the fact that everyone will know about their problems when they file for divorce. The truth is 40% of all marriages are in distress at any given time and can benefit greatly from marital counseling. Don't forget that counseling is completely confidential.
People don't get married to be miserable or to be divorced. It's easy to get married–it's being married every day that takes knowledge, effort and dedication. Many people simply have not been shown or taught how to have a healthy marriage. The relationships can become so fractured, painful, and feel so hopeless that many couples don't know how to get the vitality and life back.
Marriage and family relationships, like the people in them, are living systems that suffer when neglected, and thrive when their needs are properly met. Just as a plant may look barren and lifeless, given the proper amount of water, sunlight, and nourishment, it will respond with life. In the same way marriage and family relationships can become strained, stressed, and emotionally barren, appearing "to be over", but give it what it needs and it will respond with life. There's hope!
If you're searching for answers, wondering if counseling can help, it can. However, it's imperative you work with a marriage therapist or licensed professional counselor who is specifically and professionally trained in marriage and family systems counseling.
"The greatest need of most wives is the combination of stability, safety and security. The greatest need of most husbands is respect."
W. K.
All Counselors are Not the Same
In a national survey, 80% of all private practice therapists in the United States said they do marriage counseling. Yet only 12% of them had the required course work and supervised clinical experience working with marriage and family relationships. Springfield Marriage and Family Institute is among the 12% qualified nationwide.
Couples seeking help and hope bring their most precious possession, their marriage and family, to Springfield Marriage and Family Institute. The issues can be ongoing conflict, needed communication skills or financial skills. Other times the issues may be sexual compatibility, different expectations of roles and responsibilities, grief and loss, or the pain of extra–marital affairs. Still other issues include parenting, blended family and step–parenting issues, acting–out teens, and the list goes on. The fact is it may be several issues at one time and multi–generational since our lives are lived in and affected by four generations.
Couples come to counseling to learn how to resolve their issues, individually and relationally, and to be able to have a happier, more emotionally, physically and spiritually intimate marriage. After only ten to twelve sessions with W.K. or another one of our trained professionals they can discover how.
"There are always three clients in the room during marriage counseling: each individual as the couple and the marriage relationship. It is the mutual meeting of needs by the husband and wife that create a great relationship."
W. K.
It is important that couples and families who come to work with one of our highly trained professionals have:
- A desire to have a better marriage or family
- A willingness to make necessary improvements
- The motivation–energy and drive–to actually follow through
- And the faith and trust in the process of healing
We can help, but only if you call. Call today to set up an appointment at 417.882.6767.
