Marriage Counseling: Working with Couples in Therapy

The Healing Power of Counseling

Marriage counseling provides couples with a safe space to address issues in their relationship, develop tools for better communication, and rediscover the love, trust and intimacy that brought them together. With compassion and care from a trained therapist, counseling offers hope, healing and new beginnings for couples committed to improving their bond.

Common Reasons Couples Seek Therapy

Loss of emotional intimacy
Conflict around roles, responsibilities, and finances
Infidelity or breach of trust
Life changes like job loss or health issues
Premarital counseling

The Counseling Process

The counseling process involves:

Initial individual sessions to identify key issues
Joint sessions to facilitate open communication in a neutral environment
Developing strategies and tools to improve the relationship long-term
Celebrating growth and progress

Typical Techniques Used

Counselors draw upon various techniques to promote healing including:

Active listening
Emotion coaching
Identifying negative communication patterns
Teaching conflict resolution skills
Promoting intimacy and trust-building

Counseling Takes Courage and Commitment

Seeking counseling requires courage to honestly share feelings and commitment to implementing learnings. With openness and consistent effort, couples can revitalize their bond.

FAQs

What results can couples expect from counseling?

Results vary but often include improved communication, increased understanding, conflict reduction, intimacy rebuilding and an overall stronger, more connected relationship.

How long does the process take?

The length depends on the issues involved but often spans 6 months to a year, with improvements felt along the way.

Can counseling help if only one partner wants to save the marriage?

It’s ideal if both partners are invested but counseling can facilitate understanding even if only one partner attends initially. Over time this may inspire commitment from both.

What percentage of couples improve their relationship with counseling?

Studies show 60-75% of couples report significant improvements through counseling. With consistent effort, strong odds favor revitalization.

When is it time to call it quits?

If both partners cease putting in effort or lose hope for change over an extended time, separation may be healthiest. But this decision requires much thought and counsel.