Marriage counseling can quickly become an expensive proposition. And when one member of a marriage is seriously considering ending the union, it can be difficult for them to envisage spending $100 or more an hour on something they believe they want out of. That’s one side of the coin. The other side is the couple that desperately wants help solving problems that they can’t deal with, but can’t afford the high cost of therapy. This article is a look at where one might be able to obtain free marriage counseling.
Were you married in a religious ceremony? United Church? Roman Catholic? Presbyterian? Jewish? Muslim? Religious organizations deliver thousands upon thousands of hours of free (or pay what you can) marriage counseling every year.
For Roman Catholics, obtaining marriage counseling is as easy as contacting your local Catholic Family Service. You can contact them through your local parish office or you can phone them directly. This organization has hundreds of offices and thousands of well trained counselors across the continent. If your Catholic marriage needs help, don’t wait.
For Jewish couples, or couples in which one of the partners is Jewish, talk to your rabbi about marriage counseling through Jewish Family Services. These organizations are less centralized than there Catholic counterpart, but then again Catholicism is kind of anal about centralization, isn’t it? Jewish Family Services groups tend to offer counseling on a wide variety of topics.
The Islamic Circle of North America is a social service group dedicated to establishing Islam, “in all spheres of life.” The ICNA, though its ICNA Relief USA arm, offers marriage counseling and other counseling services through Muslim Family Services.
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.
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