Does the words 'couple's counseling' strike fear into your partner? Many people feel uncomfortable with counseling because they think it is only for people who have 'real' problems while others feel uncomfortable discussing personal matters in front of someone who he or she may not know very well. They may also be worried that he or she is being judged during the counseling session. These concerns are all legitimate fears, but try to put things into perspective. If your relationship is on the brink, are both of you willing to try anything you can do to save it? It seems like counseling falls under the category of anything.

Here are some concerns to consider as you're thinking about going to counseling.

What Types of Problems are You and Your Partner Facing?

Determining what types of problems you're having helps you determine if couples counseling is necessary. Some problems, such as doing chores and paying the bills, may be problems that you could try discussing on your own before you go to counseling. For more serious problems, like distrust and difficulty communicating, counseling may be the answer you're looking for.

What Do You and Your Partner Hope to Achieve with Counseling?

You and your partner need to talk about what you want to gain from counseling. Discussing what you want will help you choose the appropriate counselor and set realistig goals. Setting goals can help you and your partner stay motivated and help both of you feel like you're making improvements. Do you want to learn how to understand each other better? Do you need to learn how to communicate more effectively? Do you want to help your partner control his or her anger? By setting goals, you may help your counselor get a better sense of what type of problems you have, so he or she can develop a more effective strategy for resolving them.

What Type of Counseling are You and Your Partner Interested In?

There are a variety of schools of therapy as well as different types of professionals. For instance, there are psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, psychotherapists and counselors. The main differences between different professions involve the level of education and type of treatment they use.

According to Dr. Steve Patrick at www.drpatrick.com, 'A psychiatrist has an MD degree' and 'treats patients by talking with them as well as prescribing medication (if needed)' while 'psychologists have a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), PsyD (Doctor of Psychology), or EdD (Doctor of Education) and 'treats patients by talking with them but does not prescribe medication.' There are also different types of sessions, like private or group sessions.

As you go into counseling, try to keep an open mind and encourage your partner to do the same. The more receptive both of you are the more beneficial the experience will be. Counseling isn't about accusations. It's about finding solutions and resolving problems.

To find help in your area visit 4Therapy at www.4therapy.com, or Psychology Today at cms.psychologytoday.com.