Sooner of later many couples run into tough times and realize that their problems are more than they can handle on their own. This is when they often decide to turn to a marriage counselor to help them solve their issues. This can be a good decision as long as they choose their therapist wisely.

In many ways marriages can be compared to a small boat traveling about in open waters. And the marriage counselor is sort of like the coast guard. I know this sounds a little far fetched but let me explain this type of analogy and I think you will understand.

Troubled Waters for the Marriage…

As our happy couple heads off into the open sea, there are wonderful sunny days of calm and tranquility. Such beautiful days that many couples begin to believe this calm will continue forever. But then without notice the winds begin to change and before they know it their lovely journey becomes unexpectedly disrupted by stormy weather, high winds and waves that toss and turn them so much that capsizing becomes a strong possibility.

Now if our couple decides to tough it out alone, things could go from bad to worse. And they just might even run into the tip of a gigantic hidden iceberg that tears the side of their boat (marriage) apart threatening to sink them once and for all.

The really sad part is some couples will do just that, thinking they can’t let anyone know there could possibly be a problem. If they had to reach out for help others would know they had made a bad decision or perhaps even believe the couple just wasn’t good at sailing (relationships) after all. This would just be so embarrassing, they start to even think sinking is actually the best idea.

Marriage Counselor to the Rescue…

However, our couple really does have a second much wiser choice they can make. At the first signs of trouble before things go from bad to worse, they can send out an SOS signal to the coast guard (think marriage counselor) and get rescued before much damage is done to their boat (marriage) or themselves for that matter. And even if they wait too long and they do actually hit that hidden iceberg (like in affair or even separation), they can still send out that rescue signal and possibly latch onto a life preserver and still get saved from the depths of the icy, cold, choppy and potentially deadly water(think divorce).

Now once you decide to call in the coast guard remember to seek out the best one available. I’m sure you would want the most qualified and experienced rescue crew to show up to save you and not some broken down wreck with a couple of guys that don’t have a clue what to do.

However, unlike the sinking ship you can take your time and even be quite picking finding the right marriage counselor. What you will want to look for is a therapist that relates well to both of you. And has the qualifications and counseling experience to help you discover the correct path for you to take as you find your way back to calmer waters and even the safety of solid ground.