Couples Counseling
Working on your relationship may be one of the best investments of your life.
When to go to Counseling
Couples come in because they are lonely, fighting, or dealing with a challenging issue. Couples may have endured a great deal of stress and pain before coming to therapy.
It is best to get help sooner rather than later. While a marriage can be imperfect and satisfying, it may be time to ask for help if you are experiencing ongoing distress, issues that feel unsolvable or stuck, high levels of conflict, or challenging life circumstances.
A couple’s relationship has a life of its own which tends to change and shift. This is normal and expected. For example, change may occur as a result of unexpected or difficult events, an addition to the family, or changes in one or both partners. Some transitions are smooth, while others may benefit from outside help.
It is normal for couples to have disagreements. What distinguishes good marriages from more stressful ones is the way the couple negotiates and discusses difficult issues, their ability to appreciate the whole person as opposed to focusing on the negative, and the very important ability to make up (preferably sooner rather than later). For the most part, these are skills that can be learned.
Additional Reasons Couples seek Counseling
Some couples come in around parenting issues such as a challenging teen, insecurity in their parenting skills, or difficulty working as a team due to differences in parenting styles.
How Couples Counseling Helps
Therapy can help you:
- Improve communication and negotiation skills
- Gain new helpful perspectives
- Change your patterns of interaction
- Learn about each other’s sensitivities
- Bring joy back into your marriage
Even the best relationship needs nurturing. Sometimes it is just a matter of getting back on track. Therapy can be one way to help you to nurture your marriage, learn new skills, and improve your relationship.