Relationships can be difficult even when people understand each other and get along well. Daily routine, stress, and unresolved traumas can cause conflicts or sometimes irreparable damage to your relationship.
Relationship counseling, also called couples counseling or couples therapy can help you and your partner find your way through conflicts, whether you are married or in a relationship.
Let’s discuss what relationship counseling is, including when to seek therapy and what you can learn from it.
What is Relationship Counseling or Couples Therapy?
Relationship counseling is a type of psychotherapy where a therapist works with people to help improve their relationships by talking to them in a safe environment. Working with a therapist allows you to explore where you stand as a couple, help build communication and aid in resolving conflicts.
With the help of a therapist, you can identify issues by going deep into the possible causes. Here is what counseling does for you:
- Therapy helps you and your partner in seeing a bigger, clearer picture of your relationship.
- It gives you a safe space to express your emotions
- It enables you to identify patterns of your and your partners’ behavior
- It gives you ways to be more conscious of your actions in a healthy way
Relationship counselors are certified professionals who are trained to listen and identify problems in relationships. They assist you on the path of growth.
How to Know That You Need Relationship Counseling?
It is never too late to seek relationship therapy, but it doesn’t mean that you should wait till your relationship starts falling apart. The most obvious sign is when you feel that your problems are persistently getting in the way of your happiness or peace. You should seek couples therapy if you experience:
- Difficulty in expressing your feelings to each other
- Frequent disagreements
- One or more unresolvable conflicts
- Withdrawal from interactions
- Signs of contempt or criticism in conversations
- A stressful event that has left your traumatized
- Difficulty in making decisions together
- You have gone through infidelity or abuse
- You or your partner have experienced substance abuse
You can start therapy even without obvious issues or just to build a stronger relationship. Counseling will enable you to become better at communicating with your partner and strengthening yourself to prevent problems in the future.
It is Important to not Delay Counseling
Waiting for ‘the right time’ to seek therapy allows problems to fester and take strong roots. If you wait too long to save your troubled relationship, there might not be anything left to save. Acknowledging the issues in the early stages and seeking professional help as soon as possible will save your relationship from a lot of trouble.
What Can You Learn From Relationship Counseling?
It should be important to be ready and open to improvement before you decide to go on couples therapy. Open-mindedness and the willingness to improve your relationship are important to make your therapy effective. Here are some key lessons that you can derive from counseling.
Counseling is Not a Blame Game
Therapists are trained to guide and assist you in re-building trust and resolving conflicts. This is not a place to blame your partner or victimize yourself, instead, your therapist will help you reevaluate your actions and communicate effectively with your partner.
A Therapist is a Mediating Force
Know that the solution to your problem does not lie inside and that is why you need professional help. A therapist’s job is to guide you through the path of healing. Relationship counselors will be instructive or interactive based on your individual needs. You would be asked to follow their directions to mend your relationship.
Therapy Helps You Embark on a New Relationship Journey
Therapy will help you reevaluate and reassess your relationship healthily. You will be able to view the bigger picture, instead of entirely focusing on your needs. You would be able to see your relationship as a project which requires teamwork.
Counseling Teaches You Mutual Growth
Being in a long-term relationship might mean that you view your partner in a certain, (fixed) way. Therefore, the idea of change might seem like an interference in the regular scheme of events. This can hinder growth. Therapy teaches you to be aware of the ways you might be sabotaging your or your partner’s growth.
We want you to know…
Counseling requires effort and commitment and is not a magic potion that will solve everything. Relationship counseling can be fruitful if you are facing challenges in your relationship, or simply want to strengthen your partnership.
At The Hardy Clinic, our team of certified professionals will help you find your way through a troubled relationship. Our experienced therapists can truly help you save your relationship or marriage.
