Couple counseling helps partners to understand and love each other better through therapy.
Do you think most couples counseling works? Here’s our answer about how a couples therapist can help your mental health through online therapy. Know more about this to save and cherish your healthy relationship.
Before Seeking Therapy And Other Interventions
The Days Leading To The Couples Counseling
I came from a six-year romantic relationship before I met John. My breakup with my ex was still fresh at the time, so I did not want to date anyone. However, my friends insisted that I should be on the rebound already to show my ex what he lost for being a two-timing jerk. After days of bugging, I finally gave in and let them drag me to a bar.
Exactly three months after John and I hooked up, though, I found out I was pregnant. There was no question about my unborn child’s paternity, considering I had only slept with John since then. My only problem was that I did not know how he would hope to react. After all, we did not expect it. We weren’t even in exclusive overall relationship satisfaction.
When I told John about my pregnancy, his face glowed, and he pumped his fist in the air. The man I thought would be devastated about the news turned out to be happier than any future father I had seen. Then, to my surprise, John knelt on one knee and presented a ring to me — and that’s how I knew John wasn’t here for the short term. We were going to be together for the long haul.
Two Years To Try Couple Counseling – The Experience And The Journey
We realized that we would benefit from therapy expertise just two years later. So we decided to seek marriage premarital intervention and find a therapist.
Like many couples, the first thing John and I realized after the honeymoon was that we knew so little about each other. For instance, he had an awful habit of leaving the toilet seat up, while I sometimes snored loudly. Despite that, we had a baby on the way, and we were willing to look past our indifferences to have a happy family (this was apparently what this was for).
When Luke came into our lives, I thought everything would still go smoothly between John and me. He said I did not need to work because he had a great job and income. Besides, looking after a baby was a full-time job, especially when the baby was about to reach their terrible twos. As many couples find out, a baby is a lot of work!
Its Effects On The Relationship – What It Did To Us
How John And I Settled Our Differences
The first time that John and I argued for a long time was when he came home from work without food on the table. My excuse was that I had to do laundry and take care of Luke, but John asked me about what’s so hard with ordering pizza, at least. That caused me to sleep in the baby’s room that night, but then John fetched me around midnight and said sorry. Nonetheless, after that, we continued to have arguments almost every day about little things.
I got fed up one day and asked John if he wanted to split because I could not handle another argument with him. His demeanor changed, and he hugged me, but I said we could not go forward unless we settled our differences through couple therapy. Online couples therapy did improve our relationship at that time.
What is the success rate of online therapy? Does it really work if done with mental health professionals? It has seen up to an 80% success rate over the years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Could I Get Free Therapy?
You can avail free behavioral couples therapy from a marriage counselor by going to non-profit organizations or churches. In case you want to do online mental health help, some platforms offer a free trial example of how their couples therapy sessions go online.
Relationship therapy and marriage counseling can help because it is the best intervention for two individuals who cannot deal with their relationship issues independently and need to work on their communication skills.
How To Find A Couples Counselor?
Often, at least one person in your circle can recommend a counselor to improve your relationship satisfaction. If you cannot get a referral for a counselor, you can find couples counseling if you visit the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) website and use their locator feature to look for family marriage and family therapists in your area. Similarly, churches are typically linked to a counselor, given that engaged couples need to go through pre-marriage counseling. However, be aware that their problem solving techniques may be inherently religious in nature. Not all couples are religious.
What’s The Difference Between Marriage And Couples Counseling?
Marriage counseling is short-term counseling that parties get when new issues pop up and affect their relationship. Meanwhile, couples therapy can deal with every problem that the husband and wife have had since their relationship started. Oftentimes, they use emotionally focused therapy. A therapist might use more long term therapy methods.
What is the Gottman Method?
The Gottman method is an evidence-based practice counseling technique that couples therapists use to thoroughly assess the couple’s relationship and determine what solutions may suit them. Gottman’s method is one of the most effective counseling.
Is it okay for married partners to sleep in separate rooms? Does this situation need counseling?
Yes, it is perfectly okay for married partners to sleep in separate rooms. In truth, a licensed therapist or marriage and family therapist may recommend an affordable alternative in some circumstances while they are in relationship counseling.
A Few Positive Tips For Couples To Consider
How can I be more positive in a relationship?
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- Accept that you and your partner are two different people who cannot always like the same things. The more you embrace each other’s uniqueness, the more your relationship will flourish.
- When your partner tells you something, don’t just nod and agree with them absentmindedly. You need to practice active listening to know that you care about their thoughts, experiences, and emotions.
- Pour all your attention on your partner whenever you are together. Time is one of the most precious gifts that can strengthen any relationship. If you cannot give it to your partner, your relationship may be in jeopardy.
- In case you and your partner seem to have a misunderstanding all the time, you must learn how to choose your words and communicate better. Otherwise, you may end up separating.
- Welcome positive and negative comments from each other – that’s how you will know the things you should stop or keep on doing. Still, the feedback therapy session should occur respectfully, considering you are doing the first therapy session to improve your relationship and not spite one another.
- Trust is another beautiful gift. Assuming your partner has not given you any reason to doubt their love for you, you should show them more trust.
Tips That Couples Should Carefully Know And Reflect Upon To Avoid Negativity
How can negativity kill a relationship? Negativity can kill a relationship by making problems more prominent than they should be. How do you know if you’re not happy in a relationship?
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- You cannot talk to your partner without noticing their bad qualities or getting angry at them.
- You often do not feel like coming home, knowing that your partner will be there.
- You do not want to have sex with your partner. Even if you do, it feels like a chore than something you enjoy.
- Your priorities are everything except for your partner.
How Do You Stop Overthinking In A Relationship?
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- If you do not understand what your partner’s words mean, try not to draw conclusions and just ask them directly. Doing the former will only make you sad and paranoid. Resolve conflict
- Realize that your relationship does not revolve around you. Your partner has as many needs as you do, and it is only healthy for them to prioritize themselves over you sometimes.
- Considering your relationship is still hanging in the air, you need to distract yourself. Go on a trip, hike with friends, or even date other people if that will keep you from overthinking.
Final Thoughts
John and I had fruitful couple counseling. We found a great counselor through our friends. I was initially embarrassed to go to the counselor’s clinic, but they assured me that there was no harm in saving our relationship. We went through a few couples therapy sessions with a licensed marriage counselor or licensed marriage and family expert, and after each one, we felt closer than ever.
It had been 10 years since we went to therapy sessions and looked for professional medical advice, and we became advocates of this treatment to our friends and family due to how much it helped save our marriage.
Seek couples therapy. But to find the right couples therapist, you have to understand effective tools and aim for immediate help from a certified professional.
More Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Kind Of Family Therapist Is Best For Couples?
How Much Does Couples Counseling Cost In The UK?
What Is The Difference Between Marriage Counseling And Couples Therapy?
What Happens In Couples Counseling?
Can couples therapy initial sessions make things worse?
Is it worth going to couples counseling?
What to expect from the first couple’s clinical experience?
Should my boyfriend and I go to couples counseling?
Do couples counselors tell you to break up?
How soon is too soon for a couples therapist?
Does counseling really help couples?
What is couples counseling?
Can couple counseling save a relationship?
Can you fix a broken marriage?
What is the success rate of couples counseling?