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Couples/Marital
Counseling
Counseling
Services 
Individual Counseling
Group Counseling
What
is couples/marital counseling and can it help me?
Couples
therapy is designed to assist heterosexual or homosexual couples
with their relationship problems. It can be used to gain more insight
into each other, to learn new and more effective ways of communication,
and to learn how to solve problems.
Am
I eligible for couples/marital counseling?
Only couples
composed of two students who are degree-seeking and currently enrolled
at Notre Dame are eligible for couples/marital counseling services.
Couples who include non-student spouses or partners are encouraged
to seek counseling either through the Marital
Therapy and Research Clinic on Douglas Road, 631-9640.
Can
I trust that couples/marital counseling will be confidential?
The UCC staff
is ethically committed to confidentiality and federal and state
laws require it. That means that even your attendance in counseling
at UCC is kept private and confidential by our staff. The issue
of confidentiality is an important one which is always addressed
immediately with the couple. Each partner is asked to make a commitment
to protect each other by agreeing not to divulge details about the
other to anyone else. While we at the UCC cannot provide you an
absolute guarantee of confidentiality since we cannot control your
partner, our experience shows that couples agree to abide by the
groundrules of confidentiality as a part of the commitment to counseling.
Several issues do not
remain confidential and are based on the issue of protection. If
someone appears to be planning harm to self (suicide), harm to others
(homicide) or is aware of children or elderly individuals who are
being abused, the counselor is legally bound to break confidentiality
in order to provide individuals the assistance they need.
Who
would be our therapist?
At your first
appointment you would see a counselor who would provide an intake
interview. If couples counseling is recommended, after the intake
interview you will be assigned to one of our staff psychologists
or counselors who has a special interest/training in couples/marital
therapy. Some of our staff members are counselors who are interns
or doctoral students in counseling psychology and work under the
supervision of licensed psychologists.
How
long do we need to wait until we can start with couples/marital
therapy?
Our Center
is fully committed to schedule you with a psychologist or counselor
as soon as possible. However, sometimes more students ask for services
than our staff can accommodate which can lead to short waiting periods
of one or two weeks after the initial intake interview.
How
much does it cost?
There is no
charge for the first intake appointment. There is a small fee of
$5.00 per session for couples/marital counseling. Students are offered
unlimited credit and can defer payments. If fees still pose a problem,
arrangements will be made.
What
can I expect couples/marital counseling to be like?
Couples/marital
therapy will give you the opportunity to examine and improve your
relationship with your spouse or partner in a non-threatening and
compassionate environment. We are not only committed to your personal
well-being but also would like to help you make your intimate relationship
work.
What
other services for couples/marital counseling are available at Notre
Dame?
The Marital Therapy
and Research Clinic is a non-profit research, training, and
service organization affiliated with the University of Notre Dame's
Department of Psychology. Established as both a research center
for the study of marital relations and a training site for graduate-level
marriage counselors, the Clinic also provides quality, research-supported
psychological services to couples in South Bend and the surrounding
community.
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