Many couples assume that if they love each other, they should be able to work through any rough patches without the help of a therapist. But avoiding addressing problems can make them worse. Whether you’re having trouble with money, children, or sex, couples counseling can help. It can also transform multiple aspects of your life.
Trust
A couple that suffers from a lack of trust, whether the issue is caused by infidelity, financial difficulties or some other factor, can benefit greatly from couples counseling. A couples therapy Lafayette LA professional is trained to help partners express their concerns, discuss how trust was broken and rebuild it through healthy communication. Therapy can also teach you to listen better, an important component of building trust. You may find you and your partner frequently talk past or even yell at each other without communicating your feelings. Taking time to listen in counseling can improve your relationship over time. Many couples seek counseling when there is a problem like infidelity, but marriage and couples therapy can be useful at any relationship stage. An engaged couple might use counseling to explore their expectations and hopes for the future. In contrast, a married couple might find it beneficial to work on conflict resolution skills or maintain romance over the years.
Conflict Resolution
Conflict is a natural part of a healthy relationship, but some couples struggle to find a resolution. Couples therapy can help you and your spouse constructively identify and discuss the underlying issue. Valuing your partner’s feelings will also improve your ability to resolve conflicts. Arguing from a place of accusation or defensiveness will only cause more pain and distance in your marriage. Choosing a therapist with the right credentials and a therapeutic style that matches your needs is important. Before beginning sessions, let’s meet with a therapist to ensure they fit best. During this initial consultation, ask about their experience and philosophy on couple counseling. This will be a good indicator of whether they can help you achieve your goals in marriage counseling.
Intimacy
Intimacy is the foundation of healthy relationships. It can be defined as “the trust and comfort that a relationship provides through vulnerability, emotional closeness, and shared experiences.” Intimacy is not necessarily sexually explicit but may involve shared interests and a sense of safety. Some couples struggle to build intimacy due to a fear of being hurt or lacking communication skills. Therapists help teams learn to identify feelings and communicate more effectively. They can also provide a safe space to explore the past and address unresolved issues. Intimacy can also be built through experiential activities, such as volunteering or learning a new hobby together. Couples therapists often advocate for date nights and daily check-ins to help couples spend more positive time together.
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is critical to building trust and repairing bonds, which therapists can help couples achieve through counseling. By becoming more aware of their behaviors and how they affect their spouse, teams can learn to be more accepting and less defensive. In addition to helping partners identify their feelings, a therapist can teach communication skills to improve relationships. This may include preparing anger management, problem-solving, and conflict resolution techniques.
Increasing self-awareness also helps people become more understanding of others. This is especially important in a marriage, where couples must respect each other’s boundaries and needs. While there is a common belief that couples therapy is only for married couples who are struggling, it’s worth noting that all types of teams can benefit from marriage counseling. Working with a therapist can improve their relationship, whether they’re madly in love or struggling to get along.
