Marriage counseling, also known as couples treatment, makes a difference in helping couples distinguish and resolve issues and make strides in their connections, whether they are hitched or not. Marriage counseling gives couples the tools to communicate superiorly, arrange contrasts, fathom issues, and contend more beneficially.
Marriage counseling is provided by licensed marriage and family therapists. Mental health services are the same as those of other therapists, but with a special focus: marital relationships.
Marriage counseling is temporary. You'll need some resources to help you avoid the problem. Or, you can want marriage counselling for some months, mainly in case your dating has deteriorated. Like individual counseling, you see a marriage counselor once a week.
We can understand and discuss if there are any expectations in regards to the therapist for aiming to improve and refine the relationship and the spheres of daily life that affect the relationship, Therapy can act as an emotional compass to help the clients navigate through the do’s and don’ts according to their suitable negotiables and non-negotiables to establish healthy boundaries and seek counsel to determine the likes and dislikes of both parties involved.
Sometimes marriage counseling is like an umbrella, protecting both parties from the downpour of conflicts and unhealthy or unhelpful behavior patterns.
Who can benefit from marriage counseling?
Most marriages and other relationships are not perfect. good ones Each person brings their ideas, values, opinions, and personal history to the relationship, which may not always be the same as their partner's. These differences do not necessarily mean that your relationship will suffer. However, differences can be added. You know what to say, it's exciting. These differences help people understand, respect, and accept opposing views and values.
However, relationships can be tested. Differences and cute habits from before can start to cause problems after living together. Sometimes certain issues, such as infidelity or loss of sexual desire, can cause problems in relationships. In some cases, communication and caring can deteriorate.
Regardless of the cause, relationship problems, confusion, depression, anxiety, fear, and other problems can occur. You hope that the problems in your relationship will end. But if it's allowed to fester, a bad relationship will only get worse and eventually lead to physical and mental problems like depression. An unhealthy relationship can affect work and relationships with other family members and friends.
Common reasons marriage counseling can help you and your spouse:
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Infidelity
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Divorce
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Abuse (physical, psychological, financial)
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Physical or mental illness
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Redefining relationship roles
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Cultural conflicts
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Financial
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Unemployment
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Dual income family
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Communication problems
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Child care problems
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Strengthening Bonds
You do not need to be in a disturbed relationship to get treatment. Marriage counseling can also offer assistance to couples who need to strengthen their relationship and understand each other better. Marriage counseling can also be accommodating for couples arranging to get married. This premarital counseling can assist you way better in understanding each other and working out your contrasts. Sometime recently, your union took place.
How does marriage counseling work?
Marriage counseling frequently includes joint treatment sessions. A counselor or advisor can offer assistance to couples to distinguish, and resolve the causes of strife. You and your accomplice will see the great and terrible parts of your relationship.
Marriage counseling can help you learn the skills to strengthen your relationship. These abilities can include communication, brainstorming issues together, and talking about contrasts. In a few cases, such as mental illness or liquor manhandling, your marriage counselor will work with other well-being experts to provide comprehensive treatment. Talking about your issues with a marriage counselor may not be easy, however.
What is the objective of marital therapy?
The objective of conjugal treatment can shift from couple to couple depending on what issue each couple is facing. If the couple is confronting an intimacy issue, at that point, finding its root cause and working towards making an arrangement where the intimacy issue can be examined with both accomplices can be the prioritized goal. Some of the basic objectives in marital therapy can be directing the couple towards clear communication, making them compassionate towards each other’s needs, decreasing the resistance between them, finding each other’s ‘self’, i.e., their distinction, etc.
There are different techniques used in these counselling sessions. The therapist decides which techniques would be useful for the couple depending on the concerns they are facing. Here is a glimpse of some techniques which might interest you-
1. Emotionally Focused Therapy
Here, the counsellor aims to make the couple talk about their feelings, make them understand the underlying emotions behind those thoughts and feelings, and convey them to their partner.
2. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
The core of this therapy is to make one understand how thoughts influence one’s behavior. This helps the individual understand how their thoughts control their actions and how this must happen with their spouse too. Here, the therapist focuses on thought reversal.
3. Imago Relationship Therapy
The theory behind this therapy is that we project our concept of love, which we developed in our childhood, onto our partners. The issues can be rooted in that area of life and that is where the counsellor nudges and guides the individual to gain insight, which can lead to resolving the issues.
4. Solution-Focused Therapy
At times, the couple is so focused on their problems, that, however simple the solution is, they are unable to reach it. In such cases, solution-focused therapy works amazingly. Instead of spending time on finding the root cause, the counsellor directly works on guiding the couples to find the solution to their issues.
5. Insight-Gaining Therapy
Insight means a deep understanding of someone or something. It is a ‘Eureka’ or ‘Aha!’ moment for the couple when a counsellor tries to provide insight into their issue and then they try to connect the dots.
6. Positive Psychology Technique
This technique can be beautifully applied to couples who feel they have lost the spark in their relationship. This technique helps them to remember all the great characteristics of their marriage, reminisce about their adventurous days, and recreate it all over again!
When should I seek marriage counseling?
Every couple fights. But when the fight turns into a war or a cold war between the couple, then they can take a step forward and consider marital counselling. The couple need not wait till the volcano bursts, they can start the counselling when they start acknowledging the triggers. The couple can seek counselling when they feel they have grown apart, in cases of infidelity, or when they are going through a big transition, etc.
The couple need not seek counselling only in cases of severe issues, they can opt for it when they feel that they are losing spark in their marital life or when they want to ensure a happy marriage.
It is mandatory to seek online marriage counselling in cases of divorce. The procedure in such cases can be different.
“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.” Dave Meurer. Sometimes, thriving for perfection can lead to distress, and thriving for happiness can lead to well-being. Know which path your marriage is going on!
I'm Saumya Das, and I've provided medical care to patients for over 7 years. My expertise as a psychologist includes online counseling for marriage or more. Visit our website: www.betterlyf.com.