There are many reasons couples decide to seek couples counseling and there are also plenty of reasons couples choose not to seek professional help.
If your relationship is struggling, perhaps the connection you once shared with your partner is deteriorating. Maybe the relationship has grown stagnant over time and you just aren't sure how to move past the rut. You may feel disconnected from your partner due to busy work or family schedules. If the problems are more extreme, perhaps your relationship is suffering due to lack of trust, betrayal, infidelity, contempt or personal sadness.
Couples who tend to avoid seeking professional help to improve their relationship typically do so for one or more of the following reasons; fear of being judged, fear the therapist will pick sides, fear of being roped into completing awkward assignments or corny exercises, being reluctant to share relationship problems, or feeling as if counseling is a waste of time.
Regardless the nature or severity of the relationship issue(s), and whether the relationship is a few months or even decades in the making, participating in couples counseling allows for a confidential, non-judgmental space to work through difficult issues. If you’re considering investing in yourself and your relationship, here are five benefits of couples counseling:
1. Better Communication- learning how to communicate in a kinder, more empathetic manner can drastically improve the overall harmony in any relationship.
2. Identify and Resolve Conflicts- Trying to resolve complex relationship issues can feel like a tug-of-war over who’s right and who’s wrong. Truthfully, conflict in relationships is an unavoidable part of every relationship. Learning to resolve conflicts in a positive, healthy manner can salvage even the most problematic relationship. In couples counseling, you have the opportunity to identify and discuss core problems, process feelings related to those problems and learn step-by-step strategies to resolve big conflicts, as well as, settle small disagreements before they morph into giant battles.
3. Create More Trust- Simply put, without trust relationships feel unsafe. Understanding that trust initially comes from within, couples can learn important trust-building skill sets to rebuild lost trust. In some situations, such as infidelity, it is possible to construct a new foundation for trust to emerge from the ground up.
4. Increased Accountability- allows for couples to set healthy boundaries and remove roadblocks to claim ownership of both the strengths and the weaker areas of the relationship to promote positive changes.
5. Grow Closer Together- If you feel disconnected from your spouse or significant other, couples therapy provides a safe space to reconnect, find common ground, and strengthen the shared bond to promote a loving, more supportive relationship.
Its never too late to salvage a troubled marriage or relationship. Whatever your situation may be, talking to a licensed, experienced, provider in your area is a great investment for yourself and your spouse or partner.
Misti Luke, LCSW is a master's level, fully-licensed behavioral health therapist. She maintains a private counseling practice in beautiful Broken Bow Oklahoma where she provides psychotherapy and clinical assessments on a case-by-case basis. For correspondence email misti@mistiluke.com
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you or someone you care about is struggling with a behavioral health issue visit your primary care physician or other licensed health care provider in your area.