Generally, couple’s therapy has been shown to lead to significant improvements in relationship matters by helping one another to relate to one another and move past any roadblocks that may be present. The fact of the matter is couple’s therapy can be conducted with any type of couple. Just about every kind of relationship could benefit from couple’s therapy, not just the type with couples who intend to get married or spend the rest of their lives together.
Blind spots are things that you do, unknowingly, that others see but you do not. This will show up in your relationships by not being direct with people. You will say things passively, or not at all. By going to therapy, you will have a professional that will help you build in awareness as well as give you tools on how to be a more authentic and communicative partner. The goal of therapy is to increase awareness and thereby increase choice. With choice comes the ability and chance to grow and do things differently. This is something from which every relationship can benefit.
One of the reasons that relationships can be so messy is that every individual brings something different to a relationship. These dynamics can be hard for the average person to grasp, especially if they vary from a person’s upbringing. Couple’s therapy allows the couple, romantic or not, to understand the dynamics between them. Communication is the key to understanding. This is especially important when your own motivations do not match those of your partner, no matter if it’s a business partner, roommate, or romantic partner.
Because we all bring a different perspective to the game, it can be hard to reconcile the differences of perspective in a relationship while accepting that both might be equally right or true. Often when an individual talks about his/her significant other, they have trouble understanding how their partner views them. We all tell ourselves our own stories about what is transpiring, and accuracy is not 100 percent. I know what he wants to hear and I know what she wants to hear. The third party in the room may help you navigate the other person’s emotions and thought processes which can be critical. In fact, it could mean the difference between assuming your significant other is about to break up with you and realising that your relationship is prepared to go the distance.
One of the best parts of couple’s therapy is that your therapist is not particularly loyal to anyone. Unlike family members who have a tendency to take sides during times of frustration and strife, the goal of a good couple’s therapist is to help illuminate both sides of a situation. This means that the therapist wants to hear from both parties, without judgment. This makes the therapy room a safe space. People, including family members, relationship partners, and even business partners are now using therapy as a way of having a neutral third party bring out and discuss issues. This is especially important if your relationship has reached a point where one or both of the parties does not feel like he or she has a safe space. If you are having a hard time saying what you mean because you are afraid of what someone might say, couple’s therapy could be a great space for you to work it all out.
Many of us think of couple’s therapy as something to do when you are on the edge of ending a relationship. In fact, couple’s therapy can help a relationship long before anything actually goes wrong. Often couples wait until they are hanging on by a thread before they seek counselling. However, couples who proactively seek counselling before a crisis hits can help prevent the crisis from ever happening in the first place.
Whether you’re a recently engaged couple living on cloud nine but worried about the future, co-workers who can’t seem to get along, siblings who are experiencing true rivalry for the first time, or another type of couple, you might benefit from couple’s therapy.
