Innovation in Marriage Counselling

I am getting married! Wow, that's great; when is the date? What's your colour scheme? Marriage is no doubt one of the most celebrated occasions in the lives of mankind by many cultures and societies. In view of the importance attached to marriage, ample preparation is required before a couple take the huge step. One important preparation activity is marriage counselling. Often between a period of four to sixteen weeks, some couples commit to a counsellors appointment with the hope of understanding impending challenges and finding solutions. As such, a marriage counsellor plays a huge role in shaping marriages which could either become a divorce rate statistic or a success story. Counselling the counsellor is thus very essential and crucial. The fact remains that marriage counsellors have one aim; to assist their clients to understand each other and live with their differences in a happy and fruitful marriage.

In view of the changing trends, there is need for a socialization of counsellors on cutting edge innovations which would assist them in serving their clients best. As much as it is essential to recommend HIV testing and other health checks, the counsellor has the responsibility of promoting what has become one of the world's most successful personality assessments-The Myers Briggs (MBTI®). Major trends have proven that merely discussing general temperaments at counselling sessions are not enough to help couples address their differences and reconcile them with their innate characteristics, weaknesses and strengths.

The MBTI® provides the counsellor with an effective tool for unearthing the strengths and blind spots of couples; providing a basis for a practical and relevant session on how couples with different temperaments can live peacefully and successfully. I must quickly add that the MBTI® is not a measurement of character, trait or ability and as such not designed to place couples in a box! It is aimed at understanding and appreciating the differences between couples and equips them with the knowledge necessary for transforming differences into strengths vital for a successful marriage. Considering the fact that marriage is a union of opposite types; personality assessment is a key for success.

It is thus very welcoming to note that the administration and interpretation of MBTI® personality assessment has been introduced in Ghana! Marriage counsellors can now adequately lead their clients and recommend spot on alternatives to conflict resolution and enhance the relevance and quality of marriage counselling sessions. Couples seeking the best of marriage counselling should insist on MBTI® personality assessment today; they would be glad they did!

The writer is a manager of PMI First Consults
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