A few years ago, I spoke with a woman at a wedding who described her vision of marriage as two astronauts floating through space while connected. She remarked, “You’re both so busy and preoccupied that it’s simple to drift away without realizing.” She was a prominent Teacher in one of a prominent schools who was a little older than I was. Her hip-sounding husband had spent the weekend at home with their two young children. I leaned in to hear her marriage counsel, of course. The slide cannot be stopped, she said. It’s normal. The key is being aware of when the gap widens and understanding how to close it again. I requested an illustration. She then said, “Well.” Couples counseling is beneficial.

The concept of Couples Counseling

Counseling for intimate relationships includes couples counseling, sometimes referred to as marriage counseling. It explores any disputes that may exist between the spouses, is frequently brief, and concentrates on certain issues. Couples counseling also aims to enhance bonds between partners and increase interactions and communication.

In general, relationship concerns including responsibility balances, president situations, and making adaptations to deal with present issues while planning for the future are more emphasized in couples counseling.

The Idea around Couples Counseling 

Numerous problems linked to intimate partner relationships can be addressed in couples counseling. These difficulties may be particular to the partnership, such as disagreements or divergent future goals, or they may be issues with one person that have an impact on the relationship as a whole, such as joblessness. Couples counseling is also an alternative for couples who wish to improve their relationship but don’t have any particular issues to address.

Watch our video to understand the reason behind successful marriage!

Couples Counselling- for whom and by whom?

Couples and marital counseling sometimes carry a stigma. Many people believe that couples who are contemplating divorce or separation are the only ones who knock on their door but the fact is that every marriage and partnership has challenges and might need counseling at some point or other. Marriage/couples counseling is something that most couples might need at some point. Although it is referred to as “marriage counseling,” getting married is not a requirement. Any couple, regardless of the state of their relationship, is welcome to seek counseling. 

Everyone, including straight couples, homosexual couples, couples of all races, and couples with less conventional relationship structures, is welcome to receive marriage/couples therapy, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation (long distance; open marriages; married, but not living together). Whether you are getting married for the first time or have been married for fifty years, you can attend marriage/couples therapy. In fact, before being married, many couples even attend marriage/couples therapy. 

Again, the reasons you could think about marriage/couples counseling are truly not limited. A few appointments of marital counseling might be helpful for any issue that you don’t feel like you can resolve on your own or that would benefit from an educated, objective, impartial viewpoint. However, there are certain particular problems that frequently lead to couples seeking counseling, such as:

• Poor Communication- Different communication styles are typical in relationships between partners. They frequently struggle with communication, especially when it comes to expressing their feelings. You could believe your spouse is aware of your thoughts and emotions, but this is not always the case. Nevertheless, if your spouse is not a mind reader, it might be upsetting when they respond differently than you would prefer. Additionally, a lack of effective communication might make one or both of you feel abandoned, neglected, or discarded. You can even believe that a partner’s lack of affection or attraction for you is a result of poor communication. Couples that are unable to properly speak about or find solutions to their uneven distribution of home duties. Different communication styles are typical in relationships between partners. They frequently struggle with communication, especially when it comes to expressing their feelings. You could believe your spouse is aware of your thoughts and emotions, but this is not always the case. Nevertheless, if your spouse is not a mind reader, it might be upsetting when they respond differently than you would prefer. Additionally, a lack of effective communication might make one or both of you feel abandoned, neglected, or discarded. You can even believe that a partner’s lack of affection or attraction for you is a result of poor communication.

Watch our video on love languages to get clarity!

• Passion & Romance- Especially if they have been together for a while, every couple desires passion and romance in their union. As a result, marriage counseling is frequently sought by couples as a means of improving their relationship. Marriage counseling has the advantage of assisting you and your partner in realizing the need of rekindling your relationship. The final outcome? A resurgence of the “honeymoon stage,” more love and romanticism. Couples who believe their chemistry has diminished on a sexual or romantic level too get benefitted from couples counseling.

• Conflicts & Resentment- Disagreements and even animosity are commonplace in a partnership. Marriage therapists are educated to teach you critical conflict-resolution techniques that you may apply in your relationship, which is a benefit of their services. They instruct you on how to “fight fair,” in other words. Relationships can suffer irreversible harm if disagreements and anger are allowed to fester. This is especially true if you or your partner are unable to express your feelings verbally. As a result, issues worsen and resentment, bitterness, and hatred fester. Your marriage will end if you don’t take action to address the problems in it and reconfirm your dedication to settling disputes and making it work. Couples who feel like they always argue and can’t seem to agree on anything or find a workable solution may seek couples counseling and learn to fight fair.

• Grieving- Couples who are having a hard time digesting their recent sorrow or loss together.

• Substance Abuse & Addiction– There are situations when one, both, or neither couple struggles with addiction or substance misuse. Drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography, overeating, and even shopping are all examples of addictions. This is a significant problem that has to be resolved right away. However, the abuser or addict must first acknowledge a problem and the need for assistance. Counselors for couples may assist you in addressing these issues both personally and within your partnership, which is a benefit.

• Child-Rearing Issues– It may be really challenging to raise children. There is no handbook on how to raise kids or how to handle issues with child parenting when they occur. The majority of us are forced to “wing it.” Even yet, raising children may be tough, particularly if the child has behavioral issues, learning challenges, a chronic condition or impairment, and/or mental health concerns. Unfortunately, when parenting concerns arise, the child is typically the center of attention, leaving the partnership to languish.  
• Infidelity & Adultery– It may seem like your relationship is doomed if you or your partner is unfaithful. However, there is a chance your relationship may be fixed if you and your spouse are devoted to it and prepared to attempt to work it out. The benefit of marital counselors is that they may assist you in reestablishing trust in your union. This relationship expert may also assist you in comprehending the circumstances surrounding adultery or infidelity.                                                  

When to Seek Help?

For some couples, an elephant-in-the-room issue such as an affair or addiction compels them to seek counseling. But problems also often arise within the daily routine of relationships Look for these 4 early signs which suggest that you need to see a couples/marriage counselor:

• Criticism
• Defensiveness
• Contempt
• Stonewalling (or any gesture communicating withdrawal or disinterest, such as the silent treatment).

Professionals-Who Practice It?

Couple counseling can be provided by licensed professional counselors and other mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. 

Process of Couples counseling

Conversations between romantic partners and a counselor are part of a couples counseling session. Typically, they will talk about the particular issue or problem that led to the need for therapy as well as their shared objectives. The process then entails employing techniques and acquiring abilities to enhance the connection, such as communication techniques, problem-solving techniques, and techniques for addressing disagreements and working through issues as a team.

Now, the most common question is- Is Couples Counseling Always Done Together?

Each partner may talk with the counseling professional individually before meeting together. Depending on the situation, counseling and talk therapy may both be undertaken together and individually.

Read our article to check out 15 techniques to strengthen your relationship.

Types of couples counseling

Couples counseling may be approached in a variety of ways. The method employed may vary depending on the couple, their difficulties and objectives, and the provider’s level of expertise. Additionally, several strategies can be applied to the same pair or session.

1. In order to encourage changes that are advantageous to the couple, a behavioral approach to therapy takes into account the environment and how it influences or reinforces ideas and actions. 
2. In order to attain goals, a humanistic approach to couples counseling emphasizes raising awareness of each person’s individuality. In order to meet the requirements of the couple and circumstances, an integrated approach to couples therapy employs a variety of techniques
3.  In order to improve awareness of dynamics affecting the couple in the present and encourage change, a psychodynamic approach to couples counseling takes into account influences from the past.

What are the outcomes of couples counseling?

Many couples discover benefits from couples counseling that aid in problem-solving and relationship improvement. The building blocks of successful relationships—better communication, honesty, and trust—can be established or grown between intimate partners.

Couples counseling may also assist to strengthen partners’ emotions of security in their union, heighten their good sentiments for one another, encourage couples to work together, lessen stress, and provide the couple the tools they need to face obstacles in the future. If you are facing problems in your relationship, couples counseling may serve as a revive and rescue plan.

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