Couples Therapy Could Offer a Powerful Boost to Your Relationship
According to the APA, healthy marriage is good for your mental and physical health. However, 40-50% of marriages will end in divorce. The divorce rate among those who remarry after divorce is even higher. However, couples therapy may be the solution you're looking for. Although counseling may not save your marriage, many benefit from it. Timing largely influences the success of therapy. The sooner you work to resolve issues, the better.
It can be difficult for couples to know when to seek therapy. However, there are indicators that pinpoint there may be a need for counseling. Keep in mind, therapy can be a wonderful option for couples in all stages.
In this article, we will discuss many reasons why therapy could offer a powerful boost to your relationship.
Indicators that Now is a Good Time for Couples Therapy
It's common for couples to wait to seek couples therapy until they're on the brink of disaster. Many couples even wait until divorce or separation is considered or being carried out.
After a year of stress and change from COVID-19, you may notice your relationship needs a tune-up. Stress can lead to contention, distress, and an overall disconnect. If this sounds familiar, a therapist may be able to help you and your partner reestablish your connection.
Verywellmind.com says some situations indicate it may be a good time to consider therapy. For example:
- If you struggle to communicate your feelings to each other
- Disagreements that are often unresolved
- Negative interactions that lead to resentment
- Frequent criticism of one another
- Infidelity, addiction, or abuse
- Unable to make decisions together
- Illness or stress that is affecting your daily life
- Wanting a healthier relationship
How can marriage counseling help couples strengthen their relationships?
Couples therapy is not only for people trying to save their marriage. In fact, some may see a therapist before or early on in their marriage. There they learn effective communication and conflict resolution skills. It can also bring awareness to potential problems.
Generally speaking, couples seek help when issues begin to cause an abundance of distress. Unresolved issues lead to unhealthy patterns and discord over time. You may feel like the two of you are stuck in a cycle of negative interactions. Over time, this can create a larger divide. Therefore, the earlier you seek professional help, the better.
An article by
TheGottmanInstitude.com identifies ways therapy helps to improve relationships:
- Identify toxic patterns.
- Explore issues with a new perspective.
- Learn new ways to address and overcome conflict.
- Build or restore trust and improve communication.
- A therapist serves as a "neutral territory." As such, you can work through difficult issues in a safe environment.
Couples can learn skills that can last a lifetime through therapy.
Timing is an important factor in the effectiveness of therapy. The sooner you begin to resolve your differences, the better. Through counseling, you can learn how to communicate, overcome conflict, and fulfill each other's needs. The skills you acquire can carry you through your lifetime. In fact, couples therapy could offer a powerful boost to your relationship.
Whether you're a newlywed, raising a family, or an empty nester, if you're considering therapy, it's likely a great time to go. Among many things, the stress of COVID-19 could be negatively impacting your relationship.
At
WalkByFaithCounseling, we assist couples with improving their relationships. We would love to see if we can help you too.
