Can’t Afford Marriage Counseling
Question: “What do you suggest that couples do that cannot afford marriage counseling?”
Answer:
First of all, be sure that you legitimately cannot afford it. In other words, if you are eating out a few nights a week and carousing around town during the weekend (which is typically expensive . . . Believe me. I know. I have 5 children.), then you may just need to make a few commitments as far as your budget is concerned. I have found that couples that make the financial commitments that are needed to afford marriage counseling or coaching typically listen better and get the most mileage out of their sessions. Over 8 years ago, our ministry started out by providing free pastoral care counseling to couples. However, I must be honest, when people pay for their counseling, they show up for their appointments and they listen more intently.
Secondly, if you cannot afford marriage counseling you may want to do one of the following:
1. Check with a local Pastor in your area. Some Pastors provide marriage counseling for free from a pastoral perspective. I have personally pastored three churches, and I always provided pastoral care counseling for free as a service to my community and church. Keep in mind, however, that most pastors are not state licensed counselors. This does not mean that they cannot provide reliable help. I only mentioned this for your own information.
2. Utilize web sites like this. Hitting Home offers marriage coaching to areas all over the globe. However, we often receive phone calls from couples and individuals that have little money or no health insurance to pay for marriage counseling. This is one of the reasons why I created this site. Married couples can search this site for free and receive constructive help from a Christian perspective.
3. Use alternative resources. We recently released our Audio Cd series called How to Break the Cycle of Resentment in Your Marriage. In fact, much of the content of our initial two coaching sessions that we have with couples is on this Audio Cd series. If you cannot afford counseling or coaching, then this Cd series gives you the first two steps that we walk couples through in our initial two sessions. Our first two coaching sessions will cost a couple about $80 per session, however, our Audio Cd series costs $36.95. For more info about our Audio Cd series, just Click Here.
Watch this Short Video to See if Your Marriage May be Caught in the Cycle of Resentment and Anger
To Order our Audio Cd Series called How to Break the Cycle of Resentment and Anger in Your Marriage, Click Here.
Answer submitted by Christian Marriage Speaker and Coach, Dr. Raymond Force
