Everything You Need To Know About Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is often seen as a “last resort” for couples. There is something wrong in the relationship and suddenly one partner suggests that they seek the guidance from a professional. While couples therapy can help couples who feel that there is “something wrong” in their relationship – it can also be helpful for a variety of other reasons, and definitely doesn’t have to be the “last resort” that people so often believe it is! Couples counseling can also be beneficial for many different kinds of couples and is not exclusively helpful only for “traditional” couples, or married couples. Couples counseling is all about strengthening your relationship, whether you are married, not married, monogamous, polyamorous, and regardless of sexuality. Couples counseling seeks to bring the partnership back to your relationship and help untangle some of the struggles you and your partner/partners have been through. Here are a few tips that will tell you everything you need to know about couples therapy!
What is Couples Therapy…?
Couples therapy or couples counseling is a type of psychotherapy in which a therapist works with a couple to gain insight into their relationship. Couples therapy provides a means for couples to work together with the therapist to increase satisfaction within the relationship and work through/resolve conflict. Specifics of couples counseling are based on what approach the individual therapist tends to align with – however, all couples counseling will involve several elements such as, a focus on a specific problem (i.e. sexual difficulties, financial struggles, intimacy, jealousy, etc.), active participation from the therapist to treat the relationship as a whole rather than each individual separately, solution-focused interventions, and a clear establishment of treatment objectives (Colangelo, 2020).
What Can I Expect in Couples Counseling…?
Many people put off couples counseling because they don’t know what to expect or are afraid of the therapist “blaming them”. This should never happen and if it does that you need a new couples therapist! Typically, in the first session of couples therapy involves the therapist asking you and your partner/partners questions about your history, background, family-of-origin, values, and culture. These are all important elements for the therapist to know and consider when working with you and your partner/partners!
The next session will likely involve the therapist and yourselves identifying the issue that will be the focus of the sessions moving forward, and then establishing treatment goals. These treatment goals will become the framework for planning the structure for treatment for each counseling session, so it is important that these treatment goals are collaboratively created. Throughout treatment, the therapist will help you and your partner/partners gain insight into the dysfunctional aspects and interactions of the relationship and provide you and your partner/partners with tools to process and work through those together. Gaining insight is incredibly important, however, the more important aspect will be changing the negative behaviors.
Therefore, the therapist may oftentimes assign homework activities for you and your partner/partners to try at home to begin changing the mindset and behaviors that were not working in the relationship (Colangelo, 2020). Most couples do not regret going to couples therapy because they learn not only a lot about their partner/partners, but also a lot about themselves – and gain a lot of insight as to how they can communicate more effectively and in a healthier way.
Who is Couples Counseling for?...
Couples Therapy is for anyone that considers themselves to be in a relationship (no matter what stage that relationship is at). Traditionally, a couple might be a married man and woman. However, with the constantly growing and changing ideas of what a “couple” looks like – this isn’t the case anymore! Therefore, anyone in a relationship can seek the help and guidance of couples therapy, regardless of the stage of the relationship, gender identification, sexuality, and number of informed partners! This is because while each couple is completely unique; many of the aspects of a relationship that people struggle with, is similar across the board. All couples argue, maybe struggle with financial stability, worry about infidelity, get jealous, or don’t have healthy boundaries – to name a few. These are common struggles among all couples – which is why couples counseling can be an appropriate and effective tool regardless of what your couple looks like!
We Offer Couples Counseling in Miami, Fl and Couples Counseling Online in Florida
If you are thinking about taking the leap and trying couples counseling in Miami, FL we are the place to check out! We offer couples therapy in Miami,FL and Miami marriage counseling. We also offer online couples therapy in miami, FL and all of Florida. We value offering quality, professional therapy with inclusive therapists in Miami, FL. Therefore, if you are considering marriage counseling in Miami,FL or couples counseling in Miami, FL– we are the practice to check out! The idea of couples counseling can be intimidating – but don’t let that stop you from trying it! Allow one of our incredible therapists to guide you on this journey!
Reference material retrieved from Ivanna Colangelo “Everything You Need to Know About Couples Therapy” from talkspace.com.