Category: Health & Counseling

Any clinical experience with therapy? It is a significant subject not only for those who have relationship problems and issues. It is equally important for individuals who want to stay happy and fulfilled in their romantic relationships. Let’s learn more about it here.

Counseling aims to help resolve conflict and interpersonal issues in a committed relationship, including sexual orientation or sexual difficulties. This method can help enhance communication, self-discovery, and problem-solving.  Let’s see how couples counseling is beneficial in marriage and other relationships and decide if you need it as well.

Why Is Couples Counseling Significantly Important In Improving Relationship Satisfaction And Emotional Health For Couples Who Are Undergoing Difficult Times?

A licensed marriage and family therapist can help couples build healthy relationships by utilizing couples therapy techniques that focus on improving relationship satisfaction and emotional health. One such technique is the Gottman method, which helps couples identify negative patterns and replace them with positive aspects of the relationship.

With online couples therapy, individuals can access a licensed therapist from the comfort of their own homes. This approach is particularly useful for couples who have busy schedules or are located in remote areas.

Emotionally focused couples counseling is a better way to help overall relationship satisfaction that goes through difficult times. It has been an excellent way for individuals to know each other more and understand particular aspects of their long-term commitment.

Be Committed: Improve Your Relationship With Your Partner Through Counseling

“More than likely, counseling for couples will help improve your relationship. However, both couples must be fully committed to the counseling process for it to work. Keep in mind that your specific treatment plan will depend on your unique situation,” R. Y. Langham, Ph.D., said.

The Process Of Negotiation With Your Partner: Reconcile, Compromise And Forget

People may tend to ignore the consequences of their actions, especially if they are more focused on the arguments they are facing. As for couple counseling, it helps both parties to negotiate and value their commitment. In line with this, it could give them a chance to reconcile and compromise for things they ought to forget when they are under the influence of extreme anger.

Narrative Therapy: Improve Your Communication With Your Partner

Individual therapy sessions can be beneficial for individuals who are experiencing relationship conflict or relationship distress. A licensed marriage and family therapist can provide support and guidance to help individuals navigate their emotions and work through challenges in their relationships. Narrative therapy is a commonly used approach that helps individuals understand their emotional responses to specific events and create a new narrative around them.

Couples counselors can also play a valuable role in addressing relationship conflict. During the first therapy session, you can expect to discuss your goals and concerns with a licensed therapist. The therapist can help couples identify patterns in their mental health condition.

“Once communication has deteriorated, often it is hard to get it going back in the right direction. Negative communication could include anything that leaves one partner feeling depressed, insecure, disregarded, or wanting to withdraw from the conversation,” shares Donna M. White, LMHC, CACP.

How Should Partners Find Counseling? Here Are The Ways

A Mediator Is Present

A mediator for relationship counseling or online therapy session is a great help to stress out the essential details needed for reconciliation evenly. An expert will facilitate a healthy relationship conversation and act as a mediator for better communication. It allows partners or spouses to have a realistic picture of what the other may or may not think about them and explain their emotional response’s significance.

Couples Counseling Provides A Neutral Solution

 

“We don’t see our relationships and ourselves objectively,” notes William Doherty, Ph.D., LCSW, a professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota. “Most people are far more aware of how their partner is contributing to the problems in the relationship than they are.”

Guiding Couples Towards Renewed Relationship Satisfaction

Couple counseling or online couples emotionally focused therapy can help. It is a medium that puts the pair on the right path of decision-making. A family therapist, marriage counselor, or mental health professionals give professional medical advice and a neutral territory that helps individuals renew their relationship satisfaction through emotionally focused counseling or relationship counseling session done by couples therapists or marriage and family therapists and clarifies the reasons why they need to stay or get separated from each other.

If your partner’s behavior is causing you concern, it may be helpful to pay attention to their behavioral patterns. Recognizing these patterns can help you identify areas of conflict and past hurts that may be contributing to the issue. However, it’s important to avoid making assumptions or jumping to conclusions, as this can make things worse. Instead, consider having an open-ended discussion with your partner to better understand their behavior and how it’s impacting your well-being.

The Role of Licensed Therapists in Addressing Relationship Concerns

If you’re looking to address concerns about your partner’s behavior, consider seeking the support of a licensed therapist. In-person counseling sessions with a qualified mental health professional can provide a safe and supportive environment to answer questions, explore past hurts, and identify areas of conflict. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is a great resource for finding licensed therapists in your area.

Illuminating Dynamics and Facilitating Change

Behavioral couples therapy sessions could help shed light on the dynamics and mental health process of change in struggling pairs. A few principles of effective couples therapy or marriage counseling sessions from a licensed professional could give effective tools and various resolutions to communication skills that both parties could listen to and follow.

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of couples who go to counseling stay together?

When is a good time to go for couples counseling?

Couples counseling is a valuable resource for addressing relationship challenges. Whether you’re struggling with communication, trust issues, frequent arguments, or any other concerns, seeking counseling can provide a safe and supportive environment to work through these issues.

What is the difference between counseling and therapy?

The terms “counseling” and “therapy” are often used interchangeably, but they differ in focus and duration. Counseling tends to be shorter-term and solution-focused, helping individuals find solutions to specific life challenges, while therapy, guided by a trained therapist, is broader in scope and often delves deeper into emotional and psychological issues. Professionals providing these services, such as counselors and therapists, may have different titles and levels of training. The choice between counseling and therapy depends on individual needs, with both therapists and counselors offering valuable support and guidance for various personal and emotional concerns.

What type of therapy is best for couples?

The best type of therapy for couples varies depending on their specific relationship issues and goals. Some may benefit from general couples counseling while others may find approaches like EFT or CBT more suitable for their needs. For those dealing with sexual issues within their relationship, sex therapy can be a valuable option, focusing on intimacy, desire, and sexual dysfunction. Additionally, premarital counseling is an excellent choice for couples who are engaged or considering marriage. To get started, it’s essential to find a therapist who specializes in the chosen approach and can provide the tailored guidance needed to improve the relationship

Is couples therapy worth the money?

Can a licensed couples therapist tell you to leave your partner?

A licensed couples therapist typically does not tell clients to leave their partner. Their role is to facilitate communication, provide guidance, and help couples explore their issues. The decision to stay or leave a relationship is ultimately made by the individuals involved based on their own judgment and circumstances. Therapists prioritize safety in cases of abuse but offer support and guidance rather than giving a directive to leave the partner. Their field is for validation and providing a safe space for clients to make their own choices, encouraging open and honest contact within the therapeutic process.

Can counseling help a broken relationship?

What not to say in couples counseling?

Can counseling save a toxic relationship?

Counseling can assist in addressing toxic relationship dynamics, but success depends on both partners’ willingness to change. In some cases, despite counseling efforts, it may become evident that separating or ending the relationship is the healthiest course of action for everyone involved. Additionally, counseling can also serve as a tool for validation purposes, helping individuals acknowledge and affirm the validity of their feelings and experiences within the relationship.

What can I do instead of couples therapy?

If you’re not considering couples therapy, you can still improve your relationship by exploring alternative avenues. You can attend communication workshops, read self-help resources, use relationship apps, or engage in retreats together. Individual therapy, mediation, family therapy, and support from trusted friends or online groups are also viable options. Additionally, you may consider adopting the Gottman Method, a renowned approach to improving relationships, which emphasizes communication, empathy, and conflict resolution. Ultimately, the key is open communication, self-reflection, and a commitment to nurturing your relationship in ways that suit both you and your partner.

Can you fix a marriage without counseling?

Fixing a marriage without counseling is possible through open communication, active listening, quality time together, addressing issues collaboratively, and offering emotional support. However, in cases involving serious or deep-seated problems such as abuse, addiction, or infidelity, seeking professional counseling or therapy, specifically designed for counseling couples, is often the most effective way to mend the relationship and achieve lasting improvement. Ignoring such issues can lead to continued deterioration if left unchanged,  making it essential to work on the relationship with guidance when necessary.

 

Therapy For Couples

How does couple therapy help deal with relationship concerns and help resolve conflicts among most couples?

Does it also deal with commitment and infidelity matters?

Psychology Today states that couples therapy helps with many matters that concern partners – family, sex, unresolved conflicts, and many more.

When something is painful or wrong in your body, the first step is to consult a medical doctor to get a proper diagnosis for your condition. Just as with physical ailments, if there are concerns in your relationship, seeking guidance becomes crucial.

After the initial consultation, you’ll receive a prescription detailing the next steps. For mental health concerns, especially those related to interpersonal dynamics, couples are often referred to a therapist specializing in couples therapy. This type of therapy provides a framework to work through relationship challenges, whether they opt for behavioral couples therapy or online couples therapy.

Couples therapy becomes an invaluable resource, equipping couples with skills to articulate their needs, cope with stressors, and fortify their bond, ensuring they remain best friends. Therapists guide couples in fostering healthy communication patterns and coping strategies, ensuring these skills permeate various aspects of their lives – be it managing finances or navigating social situations with friends and family.

What About When It Comes To Your Marriage Or The Relationship?

When it comes to your marriage or the relationship, seeking guidance from a couples therapist can be invaluable. Couples counseling offers a structured environment to address specific issues, foster open communication, and strengthen the bond between partners. If broader family dynamics are influencing the relationship, family therapy can also be beneficial, ensuring that all members have a voice and the tools to contribute to a healthier family unit.

What If You Are Experiencing Relationship Distress Or Sexual Difficulties?

If you are experiencing relationship distress or sexual difficulties, considering marriage counseling or relationship counseling can be an effective way to address and resolve those challenges. Many therapists now offer online couples therapy options, making it more convenient for individuals and partners to seek help. These professionals work with couples to enhance communication, understanding, and intimacy, providing them with tools and strategies to improve their relationship dynamics.

Would Couples Therapy Be Effective?

Fortunately, the answer to this question is in the affirmative.

When To Seek Couple Therapy For Couples

If you and your partner are among the married couples having frequent conflict and marriage problems, then the best option to take is to try this type of therapy or in-person couples therapy.

However, it must be noted that it requires the cooperation and communication skills of both the husband and wife.

Couples counseling requires couples to be fully cooperative, focusing on how to improve their relationship.

Keep in mind that no matter how much you want to save the marriage, if your partner is reluctant to try it then it is expected that the relationship may end up in legal separation or divorce.

There are times when you may be clueless about what is causing the rift between you as a couple.

Couples therapy, also known as relationship therapy, can be a helpful process for addressing issues within a relationship. One of the key areas that therapists focus on is healthy communication skills, as well as problem-solving skills. Often, one partner may need support in learning how to effectively express their needs and feelings.

The therapist can work with both partners to develop and practice these skills over the course of several months. Additionally, couples therapy can address a range of issues that may be affecting the relationship, such as unresolved conflicts or issues with extended family members, such as parents.

Once you feel that something is wrong as a couple, then maybe it is best to have couples therapy and talk to a marriage counselor or a licensed marriage therapist as soon as possible.

That way you can both stay on the same page.

Know that your relationship requires fewer expectations and more adjustment during a difficult conversation.

Do not wait until it’s too late to resolve the issue and listen carefully to your advisor when he or she advised you to stop fighting.

Couples therapy helps them identify and deal with unwanted feelings and conflicts and improve relationship satisfaction.

Couples therapy can be a beneficial tool for couples facing physical, emotional, or psychological challenges in their relationship. Often, couples may be afraid to communicate their anxiety and worry through words, which can lead to complications and misunderstandings.

By working with a therapist early on, couples can learn to communicate effectively and with respect for each other’s feelings. Through this process, they may realize that many of the challenges they face can be solved through dialogue and a shared commitment to working towards a common goal.

In other words, therapy can help couples overcome their fears and find a way to move forward together, ultimately strengthening their bond and deepening their connection.

By going through it, you can expect that you and your partner make wise decisions regarding strengthening and regaining the bond in your marriage – or decide to go their separate ways.

Both of you will feel loved.

Couples Therapy Effectiveness

“Many couples come to couples therapy with an acute issue to work on. However, the problem-solving tools learned from couples therapy can be used preventatively and are applicable in many other factors and aspects in life,” says John Carroll, MFT.

How Couple Therapy Works

The primary objective of couples therapy is to help partners connect with one another through the help of a couples therapist.

“They come to couples therapy to deepen their connection and strengthen their relationship,” explains Geoffrey Steinberg, PsyD.

In couples therapy sessions, couples therapists or family therapy experts determine the major obstacles that you are experiencing together, and what really triggers most of your conflicts in your relationship to achieve overall relationship satisfaction.

Some areas of your relationship stress and problems that could be deliberated include communication problems, health matters, sexual intimacy issues, cultural background, and parenting conflicts, among others.

These are addressed during the couples counseling session.

Sometimes, when two persons have been in a relationship for such a long time, there is a possibility that the intimacy would die down. A partner refuses to get romantic. The once healthier relationship turns stale. And sometimes, comparisons with other people’s relationships crop up. This is where focused therapy can be beneficial.

Couples therapists are trained to help these individuals navigate relationship issues and reconnect. However, the professional will not approach the situation abruptly. Through structured therapy sessions, the therapist will use specialized strategies that would encourage, but not compel, the re-establishment of old patterns between the partners, which they may have acquired from their family members.

Remember That There Is Always A Key Step For The Marriage to Succeed

Is couples therapy effective in dealing with relationship issues?

A common misconception about couples therapy or individual therapy is that it is a surefire way to save a marriage or a family by asking questions.

This is incorrect because this result is not guaranteed.

Although a recent study shows that the success rate is around 70-80%, there is still a high chance that the couples will decide to go on separate ways or that relationships just won’t work.

Always remember that the success of this type of treatment depends on a lot of factors, and communication is a major factor.

“If couples aren’t invested in trying new couples counseling techniques or recreating the experiences from couples therapy at home throughout the week (weekly therapy recommended), then couples therapy probably will not work,” explains Sheila Tucker, LAMFT, MA.

Consequently, marriage and family therapists agree with this, as relationship satisfaction is also dependent on the foundation of people’s relationships.

The truth is that no matter how much two individuals love each other, there will always come a time when their love would be tested in several circumstances.

The proper conclusion that we can make at this point is that the efficacy of couples therapy is not guaranteed.

Treating Couple’s Relationship The Right Way

Couples Therapy Insights And Takeaways To Consider

Saving a marriage by knowing the relative questions to ask your spouse in marriage must always be your top priority.

Sadly, some future indications would tell you that love is not enough to stay.

Couples therapy may not guarantee to save the marriage or relationship of partners.

But it is indeed one of the key steps in having a successful relationship.

It is significant to note that for couples who find it difficult to find counseling or therapy services near their area, online marriage counseling questions to ask are available in most countries.

Clients may search for online platforms and look for the right couple’s counseling therapist or family therapist that can meet their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the most predominant issues tackled in couples counseling?
2. What are the typical strategies used in couple therapy?
3. What are the primary objectives of a couples counselor?
4. How effective is therapy for couples?
5. Do counselors provide advice to couples on how to make relationships last?
6. How long do couples need to go to a therapist?
7. Is a counselor licensed to advise divorce in couples?
8. What is the most common problem addressed in couple therapy?
9. Does marriage counseling really help?
10. How do you make a relationship last 6 tips from a couples therapist?
11. What kind of therapist is best for couples?
12. How do you fix a broken relationship?

13. What Do couples Do During Couples therapy?

14. Is Couples Therapy Good For The Relationship?

15. Can Couples Therapy Help A Toxic Relationship?

Many times, people had told me that I was perhaps one of the most nonjudgmental individuals on the planet. My friends could share embarrassing stories with me, and I often tried to put myself in their shoes to understand their logic instead of berating them for their mistakes. My relatives could admit the awful things they had done in life, and I would hug them and thank them for trusting me with their secrets. At some point, people began to think that nothing could faze me.

In reality, those people were almost correct. I had to emphasize “almost” because I got a single pet peeve: hearing others blame their problems on everything or everyone except for themselves.

Scenario #1

Mary was the last person to leave the house. Her husband, John, was already in the car, waiting for her.

“Did you unplug everything?” John asked.

“Yes, dear,” she said.

“Did you turn off the stove? I saw that the meat you were slow-cooking was still there.”

“Yes, I did that, too,” Mary replied.

The entire day passed, with the couple getting busy at their respective offices. John picked her wife up from work around five o’clock, and they even talked about the lovely dinner they would have. However, they had the shock of their lives when they opened the backdoor leading to the kitchen and realized that the fire sprinklers were on. Water covered their wooden floor and flowed towards their pristine living room. When they investigated the place, they deduced that the stove was still on when they left, judging by how the pot and the meat were almost charred on top of it.

John wheeled around to face Mary. “You said you turned it off!” he exclaimed.

Instead of feeling sorry, Mary crossed her arms over her chest. “I believed I did, okay? It’s your fault because you did not double-check it before we left. You just went straight to the car instead of helping me lock the house.”

Scenario #2

Dale was helping his mother, Mary, choose the tiles for their new family home.

“Mom, let’s go with this white marble granite. It’s a bit pricey, but it will not crack as easily as ceramic or porcelain tiles,” he said.

Jolene shook her head vigorously. “No, son, I want to stick with my budget. It will be fine as long as I mop it carefully.”

“I can pay for the excess amount, Mom. I—” 

“There’s no need for that,” Jolene uttered, cutting him off. “We will get ceramic tiles. That’s final.”

Not wanting to extend the argument, Dale conceded, even though he knew he was right. True enough, his mother called him a couple of months after moving into the family home, complaining about a broken tile.

“I don’t know how it happened. I just walked towards the dining table one morning, and then I saw the crack under one of the chairs. It was thin but still visible,” Jolene explained over the phone.

“Mom, this was what I tried to tell you months ago. If you just agreed to get the granite tiles, you would not have this problem,” Dale said.

“You know these things better than I do. You should have insisted on the granite instead of letting me choose ceramics. Now, you need to fix this.”

Thoughts

Can you see how infuriating both scenarios are? That’s especially infuriating for me, considering the examples above were real-life anecdotes. In other words, they genuinely happened in my family! You would need a godly level of patience to deal with such incidents.

Why Do People Act Like That?

Blaming others for someone’s own behavior is a fine example of negative attribution. This is a psychological idea that explains how people react when they find themselves in a specific situation.

The thing is, not all attributions are negative. For instance, if someone receives an award, they can say that it’s all because of their hard work and the encouragement of the people around them. When a couple ties the knot, they may thank everyone who has helped them realize that they are perfect for each other.  

What is the attribution theory in psychology? 

 Attribution theory in psychology refers to a person’s ability to explain what may have caused a situation based on whatever information they have. Meaning, they put the puzzle pieces together to create a causal judgment.

What is an example of attribution bias? 

 One example of attribution bias is an individual’s reaction when they experience failure or success. If they manage to achieve their goals, they tend to say that it is a product of their hard work and sacrifices. If they fail, they start pointing fingers and blaming others, considering that will prevent people from concluding that they are weak.

Why is attribution necessary to psychology? 

 Attribution matters to psychology because even mental health professionals utilize this theory to determine why their patients behave a certain way. Since most – if not all – factors that caused mental distress to an individual took place in the past, they couldn’t do anything but create causal reasoning based on the patients’ stories.

What is attribution, and why is it important? 

 Attribution is the act of combining various details about a situation to assess what caused it. It is essential because we cannot witness everything globally, even when our loved ones are involved. Since you can do attribution, you can judge the situation according to someone’s information.

What is another word for attribution? 

 Assignment.

What is personal attribution? 

 Personal (or dispositional) attribution pertains to the act of linking an individual’s trait, thinking pattern, effort, and abilities to their actions. For example, a man gets accused of starting a fight with another driver on the road. Later, it has been revealed that the former has depression. Onlookers may then say that they have acted that way due to their mental disorder.

What is the best definition of attributes? 

 An attribute refers to characteristics that may describe an individual.

What factors affect our attributions? 

• Consensus: It focuses on the general reaction towards an action.
• Consistency: It refers to the individual’s typical behavior towards the other entity.
• Distinctiveness: It shows how a person reacts during specific situations.

Why is attribution so important? 

 Attribution is vital because it helps people connect the dots and determine why someone acts a certain way. It is easier to jump to conclusions than check for attributes, but the latter will allow you to develop a logic-based judgment.

What is the difference between attribution and citation?

 Attribution is the act of mentioning who holds the copyrights to a specific work. For instance, if you add a photograph to your presentation, you need to say who took it. If you use a song, you must say who sang and produced it.

On the other hand, citation refers to the scholarly manner of mentioning where you got an idea. For instance, if you are talking about a concept you have found from a website, you need to write the author’s name, year of publication, title, and source.

Final Thoughts

I have had to make peace because I cannot stop everyone – not even my loved ones – from doing negative attribution. Despite this, I always try to counter it with a positive one to cancel its adverse effect on other people or me.