Photo of Rucker Therapy Associates, Marriage & Family Therapist in Morgantown, WV
Rucker Therapy Associates
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MBA
Verified Verified
Morgantown, WV 26505
Michael Rucker is a clinically trained marriage and family therapist and has been in practice for over a decade in Charleston, WV and Morgantown, WV. He has worked with a broad population of clients, including individuals, couples, families, children, teenagers, and groups. His passion and life experiences has led to an interest and specialization with a myriad of topic areas that he excels with, including but not limited to infidelity, infertility, mood disorders (depression and anxiety), trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, learning disabilities, addiction, marital issues, and divorce adjustment.
Michael Rucker is a clinically trained marriage and family therapist and has been in practice for over a decade in Charleston, WV and Morgantown, WV. He has worked with a broad population of clients, including individuals, couples, families, children, teenagers, and groups. His passion and life experiences has led to an interest and specialization with a myriad of topic areas that he excels with, including but not limited to infidelity, infertility, mood disorders (depression and anxiety), trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, learning disabilities, addiction, marital issues, and divorce adjustment.
(681) 229-4032 View (681) 229-4032
Photo of Donna Murray, Counselor in Morgantown, WV
Donna Murray
Counselor, LPCC-S
Verified Verified
Morgantown, WV 26508  (Online Only)
Hello! My name is Donna Murray and I look forward to connecting with you. I’ve had the joy of working in the counseling field for over 25 years in multiple settings including: private practice, inpatient and outpatient, home-based, school-based and residential detox. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the states of Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina and have been offering counseling services since 1996. Currently, I also serve on the West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction & Prevention Professionals.
Hello! My name is Donna Murray and I look forward to connecting with you. I’ve had the joy of working in the counseling field for over 25 years in multiple settings including: private practice, inpatient and outpatient, home-based, school-based and residential detox. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the states of Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina and have been offering counseling services since 1996. Currently, I also serve on the West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction & Prevention Professionals.
(304) 403-7450 View (304) 403-7450
Marriage Counseling Therapists

How does marriage counseling work?

Marriage counseling works by teaching couples concrete skills to communicate with one another and solve disagreements in healthy ways. A trained mental health professional works with both members of a couple to explore difficulties the couple may be having and helps them develop skills to address these matters. Couples who don’t have any difficulties but want to prepare for marriage may develop skills for the future.

How long does marriage counseling typically last?

Marriage counseling is a short-term form of therapy; the process may last between four and eight sessions. Other forms of relationship guidance from mental health professionals, such as couples therapy, are longer lasting, may focus on the past rather than just the present, and are tailored to the individual couple and their emotions, history, and patterns in the relationship. Couples therapy often lasts for 12 weeks or longer.

Is marriage counseling effective?

Marriage counseling helps many couples develop relationship skills that may not have been acquired or tested in a relationship; partners may be better able to communicate and address conflict following counseling. However, there are many different forms of marriage counseling, and this form of counseling does not have as strong an evidence base as other modalities such as couples therapy.

Is marriage counseling effective if only one partner wants to go?

Yes, marriage counseling can still be effective if one partner convinces the other to engage in the process. Of course, whether counseling is effective depends on the couple’s commitment to work on their relationship; however, the short-term, skills-based nature of marriage counseling makes it a relatively easy “ask” of a partner, and the hesitant individual may see its value once counseling begins.