When it comes to the longevity and happiness of your relationship, you might consider couples therapy, which is a type of counseling that helps two people learn how to better communicate and resolve conflicts. Forbes reports that this form of treatment can help improve relationships and can serve as relationship first aid for partners who are struggling. However, it’s important to understand that not everyone needs or is ready for this type of treatment. Before you and your partner begin therapy, it’s a good idea to decide if this is something that both of you want to pursue.
There are several approaches to couples counseling, including Emotionally Focused Therapy or EFT Gottman Method, and Imago Relationship Therapy. Your therapist may use a combination of these techniques or will follow a specific approach based on the current state of your relationship and your unique circumstances. Most therapists will have an initial consultation with you and your partner to assess the current state of the marriage and the nature of the problem. They will also ask questions about your personal histories to get a better sense of how you both interact and where the conflict points are.
It’s normal for emotional and intense feelings to come up in couples therapy, but a great therapist will make sure that these feelings do not escalate out of control or take over the entire session. Couples will often find themselves discussing difficult topics during this time, such as infidelity, addiction, abuse, and other issues that can cause major rifts in a relationship.
While you might be eager to begin this work, it’s important to keep in mind that a therapist will need to do some assessment before they can really begin the process of helping you and your partner navigate through conflict. They will need to determine your individual personality traits, each of your needs and wants in the relationship, and each person’s triggers. They will then be able to identify the underlying dynamics that create unhelpful communication behaviors.
During the first session, you can expect to be asked for an oral history of your relationship. This can include your early experiences together, memories of dating, and your experience as parents. It can also be helpful for the therapist to understand your family-of-origin, values and cultural background. These are all important factors in the process of building trust.
In addition, a good therapist will make sure that you and your partner are on the same page about what you want to achieve from couples counseling. During this time, you’ll also likely discuss the therapist’s style and approach to couples therapy. They will also clarify how many sessions you’ll have and what the expectations for therapy will be. You should never agree to couples therapy dartmouth if you’re not fully committed. As a therapist, it is ethically unethical for me to see both individuals in the same marriage as clients at the same time, so it’s important that you and your partner be on the same page about what you hope to achieve.