Get through It Together: The Real Benefits of Couples Therapy
Did you know that the average couple who attends counseling has been unhappy for six years before seeking help?
If you’re struggling in your current relationship, you’re not alone. Everyone handles stress and anxiety differently. Our significant other often becomes the brunt of our frustrations.
Movies and books often portray couples therapy as embarrassing, futile, or downright cheesy. But is that really the case? Could it be the right solution for you and your relationship?
In this post, we’ll discuss what couples therapy is like and the many benefits it can offer. Read on to learn more.
What Is Couples Therapy Like?
Many people assume that couples therapy only addresses very serious problems, such as infidelity.
The truth is that it can help with a wide variety of issues couples may face, including:
- Money and spending habits
- Parenting concerns
- Dealing with in-laws
- Chronic illness
- Sex and intimacy
- Gambling or substance abuse
- Infertility
- Grief or loss
- Conflict resolution
- Major life changes, such as the birth of a child or retirement
Couples therapy can benefit people from all backgrounds and at all stages of the relationship.
A newly engaged couple, for example, may seek counseling to gain a clearer idea of the responsibilities of marriage. A couple married for decades may use counseling to reignite the spark in their relationship.
Couples therapy begins with the counselor finding out about each person’s values and upbringing. Counselors usually focus on helping the couple improve their communication skills. They’ll encourage them to express their thoughts and desires in a calm and clear manner.
Together, the counselor and couple seek to identify the issue(s) and establish goals and a treatment plan.
What Are the Benefits of Couples Therapy?
Whether it’s a few sessions for an immediate problem or a longer series of counseling, couples have a lot to gain from trying relationship therapy.
For starters, counseling helps each person view the relationship objectively. Rather than getting caught up in a cycle of arguments and blame, the counselor helps each person understand the other.
A good counselor will identify dysfunctional behaviors and offer advice on how the couple can better interact. This is especially beneficial for couples that avoid expressing their deepest feelings and isolate themselves emotionally.
If a couple has fallen into a habit of shouting or resorting to ridicule and sarcasm, counselors can teach them how to speak to each other peaceably. Couples can also benefit from learning to become better listeners and really listen to what the other is saying.
A couple that’s in a downward spiral may have lost sight of the positive aspects of their relationship. Counseling can help them recall the strengths of their relationship and encourage unity in the future.
Could You Benefit from Couples Counseling?
As you can see, there are many potential benefits to trying couples therapy.
If you’re dedicated to your relationship — and to making it work — we invite you to learn more about our professional couples therapy.
Contact us today at 847-584-1671 or click here to use our online request form.
