Free Marriage Counseling Is Available
This short article is an introduction to where you might be able to obtain free marriage counseling. Of course, if money is no object, you can and should be looking for the best marriage counselor you can find. Trust me when I say a divorce, especially one where minor children are involved, is worth saving if at all possible. But getting back to free marriage counseling: the cost of marriage counseling – especially for a couple that is fighting about money – can be prohibitive. But that doesn’t mean there’s no help available. There is help out there and this is where to look.
Religious organizations are the most frequently utilized source for free marriage counseling. Every year these groups deliver literally tens of thousands of hours of generally high quality marriage counseling, most of it on a pay what you can basis.
In 2008 Catholic Family Service delivered almost 25,000 hours of marriage counseling in North America alone. The organization has set up hundreds of local websites, so to find information on what is available to you in your area, simply go to any search engine and enter “Catholic Family Services” and the name of your city. The marriage counseling services are extensive and professional.
In the Jewish community Jewish Family Services organizations are established on an as-needed basis and are run entirely from within the local community. Counseling services offered tend to be extensive. As with Catholic Family Services, the organizations identify themselves with the name of the organization followed by, “of …” If you live in Cleveland, for example, simply enter “Jewish Family Services of Cleveland” in any search engine and the correct website will pop up.
ICNA stands for Islamic Circle of North America. Counseling is delivered to married couples within the context of the expectations of the Faith. Marriage counseling is delivered by the ICNA through Muslim Family Services. MSF is a division of Islamic Circle of North America Relief USA.
Other faiths all have there own marriage counseling services, though most are not as organized as Catholic Family Service, Jewish Family Services or Muslim Family Services.
For couples who were joined in a civil ceremony, it is noted that, like churches, governments have a vested interest in stable families, and an even more pressing interested in assisting unstable marriages. Contact social services in your municipality to find out what service might be available for you and your spouse.