Many of us strive for a ‘Happy Ever After’ in a loving, healthy relationship. However, every relationship has its ups and downs, and society doesn’t always prepare us for the problems that can arise. As a result, the reality is that a high number of marriages and partnerships can end in divorce with poor communication and the inability to remain on the ‘same page’.
Many of these issues could be avoided and/or resolved through couples counselling or marriage therapy. In this article we are going to list some of the reasons why partners often end up struggling in their relationships and how marriage counselling can help people overcome them.
5 signs that you need couples counselling
There are a few signs and symptoms that you may need couples counselling. Here are some of the most common:
Frequent fighting. Arguing sometimes is fairly normal - it is how disputes are settled, and often times arguments (when handled properly) can lead to growth in a relationship. However if you’re fighting all the time this can lead to problems.
Constant bickering and nitpicking. Bickering isn’t quite as intense as arguing, but if your average conversation is a bicker instead of an actual productive conversation, you might need couples counselling.
Difficulty staying ‘on the same page.’ A lot of times you might feel like you and your partner just have totally different ways of looking at things and never want to participate in the same things or do things the same way. Sometimes this is good; when this happens over and over it can feel a bit distancing.
Dealing with the same issues over and over. Ideally, once you’ve argued about a topic, you won’t have to deal with that topic again. If you find yourself repeatedly arguing about the same thing again and again, you might need counselling.
Sex problems. Sex is a very intimate process, and it can be difficult to work out the ‘kinks’ on your own. If you find that you are frequently arguing about sexual preferences or that the two of you simply aren’t having a good time in the bedroom, marriage counselors can help with this
Benefits of couples counselling
There are a number of benefits that you could experience if you partake in couple’s counselling. These can include:
Enhanced communication. Improving communication can help you to sort out the vast majority of issues in your relationship. Arguments will become constructive conversations, and you’ll be able to discuss intimate topics with ease.
Enhanced intimacy. If you struggle with intimacy and closeness, marriage or couples counselling can help you overcome these problems to get that spark back in your relationship.
You can overcome roadblocks. If you feel like the two of you are stuck at an impasse, marriage counselling can help you overcome these roadblocks.
You can better understand feelings. Some people have a hard time expressing their true feelings. This usually leads to these feelings being expressed as anger, resentment, or other unwanted emotions. Couples counselors can help you learn to express your authentic feelings so you can be more authentic.
Enhanced self-awareness. Marriage and couples counselling can enhance self-awareness for both partners. With increasing awareness comes an increasing understanding of what each partner needs in the relationship, and what they can offer.
Marriage counselling can be incredibly healing for couples of all different types. If you or a loved one are experiencing problems with your relationship, consider starting with marriage counselling as it can be one of the best ways to resolve this.
Similar articles you might like: The secret to a perfect relationship, 6 ways to rebuild trust, The 5 biggest misconceptions about divorce.
For more relationship advice, see Yours Magazine