There is no shame in admitting when your relationship needs help. Contrary to belief, seeking out a marriage counselor does not mean that your relationship is beyond repair. When two people choose to work on their relationship, they often need professional help to facilitate questions, talk without anger, and dig deeper into the trouble spots in their relationship. And the result is the couples who choose couples therapy tend to become stronger and happier together.

Unfortunately, many therapists do couples therapy even though they do not have professional couples therapy training. You don’t want to end up with someone like that.  You need someone who really knows what they are doing, and can really help you and your partner.  

If you’re searching for a couple’s therapist in Winnipeg, here are the five things to ask to help ensure the therapist is right for you and your relationship:

• What is your education and experience?

When selecting a couple’s therapist, ask them where they received a formal education, if they are licensed to practice in Winnipeg, and if they’ve received any supervised training in couples therapy. Not all therapists (even those who get couples therapy training) receive supervision to ensure they are correctly applying the techniques at interventions from their training. Some of the most researched and effective approaches include:

• The Gottman Method
• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
• Integrative Behavioral Couples Therapy (IBCT)
• Relational Life Therapy
• The Psychobiological Approach of Couples Therapy (PACT)

Try finding a couples therapist who uses 2 or more of these methods and you’ll be in good hands.

• What makes a successful relationship?

Just as every couples therapist is different, so is every couple. There’s no “right way” to be in a relationship. So, knowing this, a therapist should be able to pick out what makes your relationship successful. Ask a couples therapist if they know this so that you get the support you need, no matter what kind of relationship you are in.

• What is your success rate?

Is your therapist successful? When you find a couples therapist, before committing to them, make sure you ask what is the percentage of couples that they’ve worked with that they’ve seen improvement in. Is it a direct result of their therapy? Knowing how successful a therapist is will let you know that their advice and tactics work and that they’re committed to keeping couples together.

• What will our client/therapist relationship look like?

Every couples therapist in Winnipeg is different. You want to make sure that you ask your potential therapist what it’s like working with them. This includes asking about the structure of the sessions, as well as the length, the assessment process, and if there’s follow-up after the end of treatment. Having a therapist with a clear plan of action is an important key to success. 

• What is your opinion on divorce?

It’s important to look for a couples therapist in Winnipeg who is committed to keeping couples together, not helping them separate. There are therapists who believe in being there to help an individual leave their marriage, but if you’re in a relationship where both of you want to stay together, then it’s important to ask their opinion of divorce. How often do they recommend divorce? If there is no abuse or danger in a relationship, will the therapist support a couple staying together?

Looking for a couples therapist in Winnipeg who can help guide your relationship in a positive direction? My Winnipeg Therapist is there for you with the knowledge and expertise to help get your marriage on track. With experienced and compassionate therapists readily available, My Winnipeg Therapist is the couple’s therapist of choice in Winnipeg.