3 TYPES OF MARRIAGE COUNSELING NEAR ME
Imago Therapy, Gottman Method & Emotionally Focused Therapy
The Science Behind Relationships and Finding Marriage Counseling Near Me
The top three theories used to assist couples in healing, renewing and enriching relationships are Imago Relationship Therapy, Gottman Couples Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Each of these theories offers their own training and certification program, which requires extensive time learning the theory, practicing and supervised training prior to certification. Therapists with one or more of these certifications and trainings are serious about working with couples. Be sure you put your relationship in the care of a professional who takes your marriage as seriously as you do!
Find Out Which Type of
Therapy Is Right For You.
When you search for marriage counseling near me, a common approach to finding a therapist, be sure they are certified in at least one of the following theories. To decide which type of couples counseling will be the best fit for you, read more about each of these.
Discernment Relationship Counseling
Discernment Counseling is a clarification process designed to assist couples experiencing marriage ambivalence and questioning if they should divorce. Created by Bill Doherty, Ph.D., Discernment Counseling is not therapy. The goal is not to fix the relationship; it is to decide if both partners want to work on their marriage/relationship. Typically, there is a leaning-out partner (one more interested in leaving the relationship) and a leaning-in spouse (one more interested in making the relationship work). The goal is to create a deeper understanding of how the relationship got to this point and what each partner needs to feel motivated to continue in the marriage/relationship.
“When people feel loved, they are freer, more alive, and more powerful than we ever imagined. – Susan Johnson, PhD
ABOUT MICHELE O’MARA, PHD, LCSW
After completing all of the requirements to become an Imago Therapy, Michele became a certified imago therapist in 2005. Her certification in imago therapy can verified by clicking here.
To learn more about your imago, download this worksheet.
Trained Discernment Counselor
In 2015, Michele completed the training for Discernment Counseling and can now be found on their referral site here. 
Endorsed by the Dohertry Relationship Institute and the Modern Commitment
Gottman Trained on all 3 Levels
After completing all three levels of The Gottman Method training, Michele is now an approved member of the Gottman Referral Network, and her credentials can be verified by clicking here.
She is also an approved member of The Gottman Method Relationship Checkup. For more information about what this is and how to get your intensive, research-based relationship assessment, go here.
