Why Couples Counseling is Important

While relationships are fulfilling and a source of joy, they can also be complex. Recent data shows break-ups and divorce applications registered a sharp spike in the last couple of years. While the pandemic added another layer of complexity to relationships, in many cases, the break-ups are preventable. By making a healthy investment in couples counseling, you can reap a positive, lasting impact on your relationship. Some couples view counseling as they are “failing” at their relationship however, it is actually a wonderful opportunity if you get to participate in couples counseling. It is a indicator of how much your relationship matters to you and the desire you have to keep it growing in a healthy manner.

What is couples counseling?

Couples counseling is a type of therapy that helps couples deal with issues in their relationship. It can be helpful for any type of relationship, whether the couple is married, dating, or just living together. Couples counseling can help you learn how to better communicate with your partner, resolve conflicts, and improve your relationship.

The goals of couples counseling are:

• To resolve conflicts in your relationship and improve communication skills between partners.
• To help each partner feel more comfortable in the relationship.
• To reduce stress and improve your physical health.
• To learn more about yourself and your partner.
• To make decisions about how to handle problems as they arise.
• To share your life with your partner and experience wholeness/joy in daily activities.

Benefits of couples counseling

Couples counseling is a way for couples to talk with a neutral person, who can help them understand each other's point of view and encourage them to discuss their concerns openly and honestly. A therapist can also provide suggestions for resolving conflicts that are important and beneficial to both partners.

Here are the reasons why couples counseling is a healthy investment:

Gain a new perspective: The benefits of couples therapy are manifold. One of the most important is to gain a better understanding of the underlying dynamics between the two people involved. People often bring different perspectives/visions to a relationship based on their past experiences. Without an understanding of these dynamics, it can be difficult to see how each person truly contributes to the relationship.

Couples therapy can help you and your partner understand how you interact with each other. Couples gain a new perspective on how they communicate, their lingering resentments, and if both are fulfilling their role in the relationship.

Learn coping mechanisms: Even the strongest relationships can be strained at times. When traumatic events or certain stressors are involved, these issues can become much larger if not properly managed.

One of the biggest barriers in this pursuit is learning proper coping mechanisms. This, however, does not come naturally for many people.

Couples therapy can improve the way couples handle conflict. By addressing issues early on, the couple can learn healthy coping mechanisms that will be beneficial in the long run. If left untreated, small problems can quickly become larger and more damaging.

Learn to trust each other again: When couples experience trust-breaking incidents, such as infidelity or other major breaks, seeking couples therapy can help them regain trust and re-establish a secure foundation.

Going to therapy allows both parties to work through the issue in a positive and productive way, which can help keep the relationship moving forward.

In addition, couples counseling is beneficial in:

• Resolving conflict and building better communication skills.
• Recognizing strengths and weaknesses in the relationship.
• Understanding how the family of origin influences their relationship.
• Identifying ways to improve your relationship.
• Reducing or eliminating stress, which can affect the couple's health and longevity.
• Developing skills that you can use in your relationships throughout life.

How couples counseling works

You can work with a couple’s therapist individually, or both of you can attend. It is often helpful and recommended to have the therapist meet with each partner separately after the initial meeting to help establish different perspectives and goals. The therapist will usually meet with you on a regular basis, such as once a week, for several months.

Couples counseling is a great tool to build a fulfilling and healthy relationship. This type of therapy can help address the challenges you're facing and help you and your partner establish a secure connection to live the fullest relationship possible.