Relationship Counseling: What You Need to Know

All relationships require effort to maintain and nurture, but romantic relationships are the toughest to cultivate. It doesn’t matter how well you get along with your partner; conflicts are completely natural, even among the best partners. That said, there’s no doubt that they can be difficult to deal with on your own, even if you and your partner try your best.

This is where relationships counseling comes in….

What exactly is relationship counseling?

Relationship counseling is exactly what the name suggests: it is a type of therapy that revolves around helping partners work through tough situations, learn to heal and move on from these problems, and cultivate a healthy and loving relationship.

How does it work?

Essentially, the sessions involve you, your partner, and a therapist. The therapist works with both partners to identify and explore the concerns and issues within the relationships. Throughout the counseling, couples work on communicating with each other, learning how both partners can improve their interactions, and working together to resolve any problem that pops up.

That doesn’t mean relationship counseling is only helpful for troubled couples. Even if you’re in a healthy and loving relationship with your partner, there are always some aspects of your relationship that the two of you can improve together.

When does relationship counseling become essential?

Even though there are no explicit rules to when you can go to relationship counseling, there are still guidelines you can keep in mind. Looking for relationship counseling becomes essential the moment you start to experience regular conflicts that interfere with the daily lives of both you and your partner. Here are some signs to look out for:

• You are experiencing frequent conflicts over seemingly minor things
• You cannot seem to communicate your feelings to each other effectively
• You appreciate less, criticize more
• Your friendship doesn’t feel as fun or close as it once was
• Your sex life is less passionate or frequent (emotional connection lacking)
• You refuse to see each other’s point of view of an event
• You want to improve the strength of your relationship

What should you look for in a good relationship counselor?

The therapist’s job isn’t to be the third person in your relationship and solve your problems for you. Their job is to mend broken connection channels and give you and your partner the tools to solve your own problems. A good therapist will help you develop communication and thinking skills that will lay down the foundation for you and your partner to remake your own relationship. All in all, relationship counselors are here to strengthen your bond and help you build upon that.

What you need to do?

Counseling also requires effort from both you and your partner. Putting in the time and energy for regular sessions is crucial for successful counseling. Attending sessions is part of the work, and the most important piece will be the work you do at home. Be prepared to notice the shifts, growth and ways in which you and your partner create the relationship that you desire.

Ready to start your journey? Schedule your appointment today.