Marital Problems and Couples Therapy: How It Works and How It Can Help You

Having a failing relationship is an unfortunate part of life for many people. As you grow further and further apart from your significant other, it quickly becomes clear that you need help sorting out the issues that led to this problem. With this in mind, couples therapy might be the answer to your issues. Before signing up for sessions however, take a moment to see if your current situation matches up to the therapy and what you can expect out of the whole process.

Knowing When It’s Time for Therapy

Couples therapy focuses on marriages and relationships that experience a wide range of problems. Infidelity, constant bickering, and symptoms of depression in one or both members of the pairing are all common reasons to come see a therapist. Additionally, abuse of any kind, as well as financial issues and the stress related to raising children can also cause rifts that require counseling.

When any of these issues strike a relationship, the friendship that was once the core of the pairing deteriorates. This means that you and your partner no longer carve out time for one another to bond or have fun, while communication often turns to accusations. This loss of friendship and companionship is often disheartening, irritating, and frustrating for all involved. If any of this rings true in your life, couples therapy may be the right answer.

What to Expect From These Sessions

Once you plan on coming to a sesson, you need to understand that there is no concrete number that will fix these issues – some couples only need to come a few times, while others visit the therapist for several months. Regardless of how many sessions you need, the point of the process is to get to the root of every problem in the relationship, both large and small. Once the discussion can take on an open and honest tone, your therapist will act as a “referee” of sorts, ensuring that both sides get a chance to express how they see the relationship.

From here, steps toward fixing the issues at hand, like scheduling time together via “date nights” for couples who wish to stay together can take place. If working these issues out isn’t a possibility, you can still expect the therapist to offer the best possible insight into how to handle the separation for both members of the relationship. For any couple looking to make a move in the right direction, the couples therapy approach clearly is the right solution.

Kathleen Mills

Kathleen is a creative and gifted therapist who has extensive experience in helping children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of issues.