How much does Relationship and Marriage Counselling cost?

What does a Relationship or Marriage Counsellor do?

Various counsellor types specialize in areas such as bereavement, eating disorders, and trauma. A marriage or relationship counsellor is trained in helping couples to resolve issues that may be threatening their relationship. 

Some counsellors may also generalize across various specialisms. This may be an advantage if they specialize in an area that is related to any of the issues you are facing as a couple.

What’s the cost of a Relationship and Marriage Counsellor? 

The price will vary depending on various factors including your location and the counsellor’s experience. Though, $150 an hour is usually the national average. 

Many counsellors offer a free consultation or a price reduction for multiple sessions, which can make it more affordable.

Price considerations

Accepting that you need a counsellor is the first step to a happier and more fulfilling partnership. 

However, as marriage or relationship counselling involves another party, your partner must be on board before you sign up. 

Many counsellors will offer a free or reduced-price first session, which is a great opportunity to see if your counsellor is the right fit for you. Keep in mind that as counsellors vary in experience and approach, you may have to consider a few different practitioners before you find the right professional.

Although a harmonious relationship is an overall goal, counselling can still feel confronting,  especially as you look to work through particular issues. It is going to take commitment and understanding from both sides to truly get a good resolution.

Here are some key price considerations and how they can affect the price: 

• Your goals 

• Experience of Counsellor 

• Time 

• Location

• Follow up sessions

Your goals

You need to be clear on what you want to achieve out of the sessions so your counsellor can help you to get there. For example:

• Improved communication

• Better trust

• Being able to co-parent effectively

Some goals may take longer to achieve than others, which will affect the price of counselling. However, if you are upfront from the start then your counsellor can tailor a plan which will be most effective for the time that you do have with them.

Experience of Counsellor

Whether your counsellor has years of experience under their belt or is starting in their career will have a big impact on costs. The more experienced your counsellor is, the more they will charge. Though be aware that newly graduated counsellors will not have years of experience which you may benefit from if the problem is extremely deep-rooted.

Junior counsellors start at around $50, which is far more affordable than the most experienced counsellors. Bear in mind that junior counsellors may lack the experience required to deal with particularly complicated issues, but they will normally advise you of this during the consultation if this is the case. 

Most counsellors will charge between $100 and $220 per hour. Most people need around 6 sessions for counselling to make a difference, bringing the average total cost up to between $600 and $1,320. 

If your counsellor is very experienced, particularly well known or deals with high-profile clients, they are more likely to command a higher fee. 

Time

Counsellors normally charge by the hour, and the more sessions you require, the more expensive this will be. Your counsellor will be able to advise you on the recommended number of sessions based on your situation after an initial consultation. 

The average number of sessions a couple will have is between 6-8 sessions. If it’s possible to split the cost between you both, then this will make counselling more affordable for both parties. 

Location

Counsellors will set different rates depending on where they’re based. It’s perhaps not a surprise that counsellors based near major cities will charge more. 

Follow up sessions

After you’ve completed your relationship counselling, it’s good to keep in mind you may require follow-up sessions periodically. This is to check that you’re making healthy progress and that any old issues don’t reoccur. A follow-up session doesn’t mean you have failed either, it’s just a helping hand should you need it. Follow-up sessions will usually be charged at your therapist’s hourly rate. 

Getting Relationship Counselling - is it worth the cost? 

Relationships are complex and there are lots of reasons why they could break down. When you are trying to work out your issues between you, it can be difficult to find some middle ground. However, a relationship counsellor will act as a neutral party. They will help you to develop a way through your issues. Many people find that relationship counselling can strengthen their relationship in the long term. Compared with splitting up, seeking the advice of a relationship counsellor can be of huge benefit, both on a personal level as well as how you function as a couple. 

Strengthen your partnership by finding a trusted Relationship or Marriage Counsellor on Bark.