You recognize the need for change in your relationship, but is therapy the right path to achieve that?
Couples therapy can significantly enhance your relationship, fostering a sense of security with your partner. However, it’s also a significant commitment, so you want to ensure it’s the right step for both of you.
At BeneByNina, we specialize in wellness. For years, we’ve guided our clients and community with the best tools to help their relationships flourish, including couples therapy.
By the end of this article, you’ll understand what couples therapy entails, what to expect during sessions, and five crucial things to know before beginning couples therapy.
Understanding Couples Therapy
Couples therapy, often known as marriage counseling or relationship counseling, is a form of therapy aimed at helping partners identify, address, and resolve issues within their relationship.
The primary objective is to foster a supportive setting where both partners can openly discuss their challenges and collaborate on strengthening their bond to achieve shared relationship goals.
Couples therapy has proven effective, with about 70% of couples reporting positive outcomes from participating in these sessions. At BeneByNina, we are dedicated to helping couples navigate their journey together with professional support and guidance.
Things to Know Before You Start your sessions
Deciding to begin couples therapy is a significant step—it’s an investment of your time, money, and energy.
Here are five things to consider before you start couples therapy.
Understanding the Process of Couples Therapy
In couples therapy, you’ll attend sessions with a licensed therapist who fosters a safe and open environment for both partners to discuss their challenges. The focus is on solutions, aiming for meaningful changes in a short period.
Your therapist will guide you through exercises and conversations to uncover the root of your relationship issues, improve communication, and empower you to handle future challenges effectively.
Will our therapist take sides during couples therapy?
In couples therapy, your therapist will maintain neutrality, offering new perspectives on problems rather than assigning blame. They often emphasize that there are three sides to every story: yours, your partner’s, and the truth.
Instead of framing issues as a conflict between you and your partner, the therapist will guide you to see it as you and your partner together addressing the problem.
Finding the Right Couples Therapist for You
When seeking couples therapy, it’s essential to choose a licensed and registered therapist with extensive experience in helping couples and specialized training in couples therapy. Depending on your specific needs, you might also consider seeing a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist.
Ensure your chosen therapist is well-versed in the particular issues you and your partner are facing and is someone both of you feel comfortable with.
Key areas of specialty to consider include:
- Infidelity
- Fertility issues
- Mental health concerns
- Pre-marital counseling
- Communication problems
It’s also crucial to find a therapist whose values resonate with yours. For instance, if you are exploring ethical non-monogamy, a more traditional therapist might not be the best fit. Conversely, a conventional approach may be preferred for other couples. By aligning your values with your therapist’s approach, you can foster a more effective and supportive therapeutic relationship.
What types of therapy are used in couples therapy?
Various therapeutic approaches can be employed during couples counseling, tailored to your specific needs and goals.
Therapies commonly used with couples include:
- The Gottman Method: This approach emphasizes building a resilient, enduring, and fulfilling partnership by focusing on key components of the relationship.
- Emotion-focused therapy: Utilizing attachment theory, this therapy helps partners understand and regulate their emotions to enhance their bond.
- Solution-focused therapy: This method is goal-oriented, concentrating on finding solutions and looking towards the future.
Is Couples Therapy Right for Your Relationship?
You may be contemplating whether couples therapy or individual therapy is the best path for you. Perhaps you’re dealing with significant communication issues within your relationship. This might be a situation where couples therapy can help both you and your partner navigate these challenges together, or you might feel it’s something more personal that you want to address on your own with a therapist.
Signs You Could Benefit from Couples Therapy
- Recurring arguments with your partner
- Navigating a tough life transition
- Communication breakdowns
- Intimacy issues
Sometimes, seeing both a couples therapist and an individual therapist can be beneficial. This dual approach allows you to tackle personal mental health concerns and focus on individual challenges separately from the relationship.
If you opt to see a therapist both with your partner and individually, it’s often advantageous for these to be two separate professionals.
Steps to Start Couples Therapy
Now that you’ve read this article, you are equipped with five key indicators to help you decide if couples therapy is the right step for you.
At BeneByNina, our skilled couples therapists are ready to assist you and your partner in identifying, planning for, and achieving your relationship goals, fostering a satisfying and fulfilling partnership.
BeneByNina is committed to making a positive impact through transformative wellness experiences. Our holistic approach to mental, physical, and emotional well-being includes e-workshops, podcasts, connection games, wellness guides, and fitness and nutrition resources. We aim to inspire a lifetime of growth, inspiration, and personal development.
Additional Insights on Therapy and Relationships
Engaging in therapy, whether individually or as a couple, can significantly enhance your emotional connection and relational well-being. Addressing personal struggles in individual therapy while working through relationship dynamics in couples therapy can provide a comprehensive approach to mental health and relational stability.
