What Couples Therapy Really Is — And How It Can Fix A Marriage
Couples can learn much needed lines of communication.
Ebi Zandi via Unsplash By Ricky Carter
Spouses or partners who experience severe cracks in their relationships are advised by friends to opt for couples therapy. It’s a way of improving a troubled relationship.
Couples therapy recommends solutions that can help both parties understand their problems and work towards strengthening their marriage.
How does couples therapy help?
This kind of therapy helps couples discover patterns in their relationship described by professional therapists as “essential processes.” This is how a husband communicated with his wife or the other way around.
It is inspired by the individual’s behavior, origin, and past experiences in life. Processes facilitate responses so couples can communicate without restraint and hopefully, it leads to a happy and warm partnership.
As a result, couples start to see each other in a fresh perspective. Kindness takes center stage, which paves the way for a better relationship that includes candid and sincere communication.
Counseling teaches spouses their roles in the relationship and figures out what should be changed or enhanced. Both of you will know the proper time to take a breather. On the whole, each one will become more emotionally matured and smarter.
How can you make the most of couples therapy?
The key is communication. You must connect with your partner properly. This entails the right choice of words, controlled pitch, and body language.
All these will surely have a positive impact on your relationship. Learn how to listen properly. Never do the talking all the time. Pay attention to what your spouse says. Focus on how your spouse feels, instead of simply reacting to what he or she tells you.
Therapy sessions include communication exercises that aim to minimize conflicts. These are also effective in creating an atmosphere where spouses can share their thoughts freely without setting off arguments or hostilities.
Thus, it’s possible to address problems that impinge on your relationship.
What does couples therapy aim for?
Couples therapy is meant to enhance clarity regarding:
- The life that spouses want to foster as one
- The relationship that both of you aspire for
- Individual efforts to turn into an ideal partner
In most cases, couples are often not sure regarding what to expect from this said approach. Yet, the basic objective is to build up an unproblematic relationship.
Attitude geared towards change is important. Couples must not only look at the problem, but they also need to formulate solutions mutually. However, thinking about the predicament is, at times, more advisable than merely determining actions to take.
There are various areas addressed in counseling. These include, past traumatic or disturbing events in the relationship, stress that gets in your way, sicknesses, children’s concerns and, many more hiccups.
It’s important to find the right couples therapist who can help resolve your issues.
There is no doubt that effective coaching can fortify the relationships of spouses. You can opt for traditional or online therapies, depending on where you will be most comfortable.
Couples also need to identify the benefits as well as the costs. The improvement will not take place overnight, but it’s worth trying rather than letting your relationship go down the drain.
Ricky Carter is a writer who focuses on relationships, marriage, and love. For more of her relationship content, visit her author profile on The Mind's Journal.