Couples counseling is a process that can benefit you and your partner in many ways. It can improve communication, build trust and intimacy, and help your relationship become stronger as you work together on your bond in a safe and neutral setting.
Unfortunately, there are many common misconceptions and myths surrounding couples counseling. Some of these myths might have kept you from looking into therapy as an option, or thinking that it wasn’t the right option for you and your partner.
But letting go of myths and stereotypes is important when you’re looking for any kind of professional help.
Let’s take a closer look at a few common myths about couples therapy so you can determine if you and your partner might benefit from seeking out couples counseling services.
Common Myths About Couples Counseling
1. It’s Only for Couples in Trouble
Many people think couples counseling is a last-ditch effort to save a relationship. While you can certainly attend counseling to get you through a rough patch in your relationship, that’s not necessarily the primary reason for it.
Again, couples counseling can help with things like improved communication and intimacy. You don’t have to wait until you’re going through relationship issues to benefit from doing this work.
Instead, therapy can simply be a way to grow together and see things from a new perspective that you might not have been able to without some neutral, structured guidance.
2. One-Sided
Some people think they should avoid couples counseling because it will be one-sided or the therapist will play the blame game.
In reality, counseling, especially an approach like Emotion-Focused Therapy, takes a balanced approach. A counselor’s job is to listen to both partners.
Everyone gets the chance to express their needs, frustrations, and concerns in a neutral setting. It’s the counselor’s job to understand those needs and create strategies that will help both partners grow together and support each other without finding fault in one person.
3. It’s a Quick Fix
You can certainly experience and enjoy the benefits of couples counseling early in treatment. Your perceptions about your partner might change. The strategies you use to communicate and connect can have almost an immediate impact.
But, couples counseling isn’t meant to be a quick fix or a fast solution for issues you might be facing.
Rather, it’s about making progress over time. It can take a while to foster healthy communication skills and build trust. So while you should enjoy the benefits as they come, remind yourself that you’re on a journey and stick with it.
4. It’s Only Talking
Some people believe that couples counseling is just a bunch of talking. You share your side of things, your partner does the same, and the counselor simply listens.
While talking is a huge part of the process, counseling is so much more than that. It’s through those conversations that your counselor will be able to put together exercises and strategies specific to your needs as a couple.
You’ll be able to work through some of these practical exercises during your sessions, with the goal of changing the way you interact at home. The idea is to transform your relationship over time, and while that requires communication, couples counseling isn’t a passive experience.
5. It’s About Finding a Middle Ground
Contrary to popular belief, couples counseling isn’t always about helping couples compromise. While compromise is essential to your relationship and counseling can help you get there, it’s more about digging deeper into the core of your relationship.
Couples counseling will help you understand your partner on a deeper level. That includes their needs, wants, values, and desires. It can also encourage individual growth. You might start to recognize things about yourself that you never did before.
Simply put, couples counseling is often more comprehensive than people realize. Being aware of some of the common myths surrounding the practice can make it clearer whether it’s right for your relationship.
Couples Counseling Sessions
If you’re interested in learning more or still have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me for information or schedule a consultation.
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