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Types of Marital Therapists

Types of Marital Therapists - Psychiatrist

Since it is important to know something about the several classes of marital therapists, we shall discuss the various different specialists within this group.

The Psychiatrist

Although in the last few years there has been a surge of interest by psychiatrists in the family and in marriage, their training generally does not prepare them to deal with marital problems in conjoint therapy. The ordinary psychiatrist has spent four years in medical school, one year in a general internship, and at least three years in psychiatric residency, A good part of his residency may have been at a large mental institution, such as Bellevue in New York City or a state hospital, and the people with whom he dealt there were primarily individuals hospitalized with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia or alcoholism. He has spent some of his training period (approximately six months) working with neurological problems (disorders caused by pathological abnormalities of the brain or nerves), and some of his time in an outpatient clinic seeing adults and perhaps also children, usually in individual therapy, once or twice a week. Some institutions do afford the opportunity for a small amount of special training in family and marital work, but this is not yet common.

A number of departments of psychiatry in medical schools have started family-treatment units within the last two or three years. This development is a considerable departure from the viewpoint prevalent between the 1920’s and the 1940’s that the physician should see each patent separately.

Psychoanalysts (psychiatric MD’s who have received psychoanalytic training after their three years of psychiatric residency) are often the best-trained psychiatrists in their area, but the least equipped to handle marital problems. Traditionally, one spouse is seen by one analyst and the other by a second. The two analysts rarely communicate (sometimes never), so there is no important sharing of information. Besides, as we have indicated, only by studying the marital interaction can the therapist obtain the important information he requires.

The psychiatrist’s methods of practice may be ascertained by asking someone who has seen him in therapy about them. Sometimes, as has been suggested, the psychiatrist himself will discuss them briefly in a telephone conversation, in order to give a prospective patient his orientation. If the individual knows nothing about the psychiatrist except that he is qualified-that he has his M.D. and has completed the requirements for the American Board of Psychiatry-a shopping expedition is necessary: the individual should arrange to meet the therapist in person and ask him about his methods and point of view. This procedure may seem unnecessarily rude or expensive, but it should be kept in mind that the whole venture is terribly important and its success depends upon the choice of the proper therapist. One may have to visit two or three different psychiatrists before finding an individual with whom one feels confident and compatible. Obviously, this kind of shopping around is necessary for locating not only the most suitable psychiatrist, but any other type of marital therapist as well.

If at all possible, spouses who have agreed to seek conjoint marital therapy should interview the prospective therapists together. If just one spouse goes on this important shopping expedition, he begins the sessions at an advantage-having already talked to the therapist and having chosen him for personal reasons.

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How to Tell if a Man Is Interested in a Woman

There are certain things that a woman can observe about a man, which will tell her if he is interested in her or not. The most obvious sign of attraction is body language. Also, the things that a man says and the way in which he says it, tells a lot about his level of interest. Sometimes it is the things that a man doesn’t say, which expresses his interest in a woman. It is these times that body language expresses more than words do. Thoughtful and romantic gestures are also characteristic of a man who is interested.

With respect to body language, so much can be learned by the way that a man communicates a message to a woman with his body. For instance, how a man looks at a woman and the duration of his look can be extremely expressive. Does he look at her with love and admiration from head to toe or does he merely glance at her and look away? Does he smile at her when he looks at her? Does she smile back? Is there a silent and powerful attraction between the man and woman? Observe how a man moves around a woman. Does he lean toward her or put his hand on her hand? Is he expressing interest in her in various ways? These are the sort of things to look for when wondering if a man is interested in a woman.

If a man is interested in a woman, he will speak highly of her all the time. It does not matter if he is with her or with his friends or colleagues, a man who is interested in a woman will only say good things about her. In fact, a man will smile when he says the name of the woman who he is interested in. Good feelings of attraction or interest will bring a smile to his face.

There are various caring and loving gestures that a man can do for a woman who he is interested in. For example, a man can send a woman flowers to show his attraction or interest in her. This sort of gesture is always well received by a woman. Also, when a man surprises a woman with small gifts, it is a sure sign that he is interested in her.

If a man is creative he may write a letter or a poem for a woman who he is interested in. If he plays music, he may even write her a song and serenade her. These are definite signs that a man is interested in a woman. Also these are very obvious signs of attraction.

When a man loses track of what he is saying to a woman, when he is looking at her or talking to her, chances are he is interested in her and finds her a distraction to him. This is a sort of confusion that one associates with being in love perhaps. When a man is around a woman he is interested in, he goes into almost a dream-like state of happiness. It is not difficult to tell if a man is interested in a woman. Just observe his behavior, watch his body language and listen to what he has to say.
All signs of interest or attraction are obvious to an observant woman.

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