Marital counseling requires regulating fit for the purpose

A marriage counseling service company in Shanghai. [Photo/IC]

The China Marital Family Work Association has said it will formulate regulations on marriage counseling services, to establish service standards for this newly emerging profession. Comments:

On the surface, marriage counseling services are aimed at maintaining the integrity of families and preventing the potentially damaging aftermath caused by the breakdown of a marriage. However, this profession, whether from the legal, moral or psychological perspective, is neither reasonable nor legal. The fact that such an industry can exist and thrive in our society to some extent mirrors the current distorted social culture.

Beijing News, Oct 12

Society cannot allow this profession to grow without relevant regulations. Practitioners in this emerging sector must abide by the industry norms and stay rational and disciplined so that the profession can serve its original purpose and aid the couples involved to resolve their differences.

Dahe.cn, Oct 12

Although it is beyond reproach that supply is inevitable where there is demand, these professional counselors have to conform to certain rules and regulations, not only because they are paid to work for both the wife and the husband. Since the biggest problem in marital crises is about the internal cracks in a marriage rather than the involvement of another party, the best way to save a marriage is to improve the communication between the couple so as to heal any emotional wounds and turn a crisis into an opportunity.

Rednet.cn, Oct 11