Does a place that is called “The Marriage Counseling Center of Franklin” offer individual counseling also?

Yes, individual counseling is certainly available.

But what if my concern is not marriage related?

That’s okay. While many personal issues or concerns have a social or relational component to them, that is certainly not a requirement for counseling here. It might be helpful to know that licensed marriage & family therapists are not just trained and experienced in working with couples & families but with individuals as well. In fact, therapy education and training always begins with understanding and counseling the individual.

What if my concerns are marriage related but my partner or spouse won’t agree to participate with me in counseling?

Counseling can still be quite helpful to you. One of the things many clients have found helpful is my assisting them in engaging and responding to a resistant spouse. One of the tough issues we tackle together is how to deal with a partner who is emotionally detached or even hostile, who will not acknowledge shared ownership of the relationship problem, and perhaps even seems set against change. Also keep in mind that while you partner may be resistant now it doesn’t mean that’s a permanent position. I’ve had considerable success over the years at enlisting the eventual participation of a reluctant spouse. But regardless of if/when your partner warms up to counseling or not, I can be helpful to you right now.

Often the hardest step is the first one. Acknowledging the need for help. Picking up the phone and making a call. Making an appointment. Counseling can seem so… so…mysterious. But it’s really not. It’s a lot like talking to a really good friend who understands you. Counseling takes the extra step in understanding at a deeper level and offers guidance, support, and accountability for change.

But you’re an intelligent person and you’re thinking, “I should know how to deal with this!” You’ve thought about it, prayed about it, read articles and books about it, perhaps even talked with a trusted friend about it. But you still feel stuck.

Perhaps I can help. I don’t profess to be an expert at everything. One of the freedoms I’ve enjoyed as I age is owning and playing to my strengths. So below I have listed some of the issues in which I have particular training, experience, and expertise.

• Depression
• Stress
• Anxiety/Worry
• Grief Recovery
• Anger/Forgiveness
• Separation Adjustment/Divorce Recovery
• Men’s Issues
• Single Adult Issues

It was the struggles of the individual that I had in mind when I wrote “When Will My Life Not Suck? Authentic Hope for the Disillusioned”

One area in which I do a lot of work is separation adjustment and divorce recovery. I know that seems to be at odds with marriage counseling, but it just comes with the territory when your specialty is helping people with relationship troubles.

I’m honored to be one of the experts featured in the newest edition (3.0) of DivorceCare (www.divorcecare.org)– the world’s most widely used curriculum & resources for divorce recovery. I’ve assisted in facilitating DivorceCare since its inception in the early 1990’s.