Today relationships are taking a turn for the worse. People do not want to put any effort into making relationships work. Time and the fast pace of life are the reasons. Parental relationships, relations with children, with friends, with siblings, are not working out. Couples’ relationships are not working out. Neither of them wants to compromise. It has damaging effects leading to divorce, separation, animosity, hatred. The only way out is couples therapy. A psychologist, therapist, or counselor conducts couples therapy.
Couples therapy is crucial in cementing a damaged relationship. Couples should sense something is wrong and immediately seek a therapist much way before the damage. Dent in couples relationship happen due to lack of time with each other, abusive issues, substance issues, internet addiction, social media addiction, jealousy, one-upmanship, ego, chauvinism, age gap, gay status, in-laws, career, parenting, monogamy, fidelity. Lack of sex is another major cause.
Couple therapy, couple counseling, marriage therapy, marital therapy are the same. Here two concerned people interact with a counselor in a favorable space or environment. The goal fixes the relationship. A certified professional psychologist or counselor is the answer.
A typical couples therapy counseling begins with a one-hour session. Stretching it too long could have unfavorable outcomes. Here the counselor understands the background of each individual, history of problem, issues, concerns. The aspect is that the rapport between counselor and clients needs cementing. The couple needs to develop trust in the therapist. The therapist should do everything to establish this rapport. Once this accomplishes the future sessions will start to work for the better of the relationship. The modalities, goals, results, the outcome need working.
A couples therapy counselor has multiple sittings or sessions. Some sessions could be meeting each one of them separately. Typical counseling sessions range between 5 — 25. A weekly meeting is sufficient unless otherwise, the counselor thinks so. Duration is a maximum of an hour. The therapist needs to establish quickly whether the couple is at mental or physical risk to each other.
The goal of the counselor in couples therapy is multifold. The final result should be the couples developing a deep understanding of each other, good communication skills, self-esteem, and acceptance. Way to manage and express negative emotions, recognize destructive habits and patterns. Stress management, decision-making skills, dealing with depression, anxiety, mental issues are benefits.
Couples therapy is no magic. It needs a lot of effort from the therapist and participants to make it work. Reading books like Couples Therapy: A New Hope-Focused Approach — Jennifer S. Ripley and Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy — Alan S. Gurman and Jay L. Lebow, Couples Counseling: A Step by Step Guide — Marina Williams, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy for Dummies — Brent Bradley and James Furrow help a lot.
Relationship with your better half is rock bottom. Seek out a certified counselor, a psychologist at the earliest. The success rate is close to 75%. The satisfaction rate among individuals is close to 90%. Do not delay couples therapy. It bonds and cements relationships.
