Albuquerque Counseling Services
Marriage counseling or couples counseling is psychotherapy that helps couples of romantic partners recognize and resolve conflicts and improve their relationship. Both individuals and their relationships are treated in marriage counseling. The partners and their relationship are the “clients” in marriage counseling, and the way they act, speak, and feel about each other is “the client.”
Studies have shown that therapy is effective for a wide range of marital problems. Research also shows that 70% of people who come to therapy are successful in improving their relationships. During the counseling process, the partners get a chance to talk about concerns in a safe environment, process negative emotions, and learn new skills for better conflict management. Counselors can also help couples in unlearning unhelpful patterns of communication and adopting more productive ways of being with each other. Couples also get the opportunity to uncover the underlying issues, which are often the cause of most of the conflict in the relationship. These might include a lack of alignment in core values and expectations, parenting styles, and/or differences in financial priorities or spending habits. By helping couples sort through the core issues at the heart of their struggles, couples counseling allows them to work towards lasting solutions instead of temporary fixes.
Benefits of Marriage Counseling Most couples that participate in therapy learn to build their intimacy and develop stronger connections. They also learn more effective ways of communicating with each other both in and out of the counseling room, and these tools allow them to approach future problems with more understanding and skills. Marriage counseling helps couples learn to state their needs clearly, listen to each other without judgement and work together to problem solve. Couples in counseling can also benefit from a third party to help them understand each other’s perspective, which may develop into empathy and compassion. For couples who are undergoing major life transitions (parenthood, career change, empty nesting, retirement, etc. ), counseling can help them process and manage new responsibilities and roles together, instead of letting these stressors pull the couple apart.
Marriage and couples counseling is often a very helpful intervention with partners. It can be used either when a relationship is in crisis, or to help support and strengthen a relationship that’s going well. Couples counseling can provide both immediate conflict management and longer-term relationship skills. While it’s not always the case, usually the process is more helpful when both partners are committed to it. Even those in high distress, with the right therapist, can have their relationship greatly improved. In today’s changing world, the particular support and skill building of couples counseling can be a useful tool in developing lasting, fulfilling relationships.
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