How can a therapist help resolve relationship issues?
A therapist can help build greater self-awareness for both individuals and their relationship dynamics, provide an objective point of view, help you explore and practice your relationship values, help you identify miscommunication and develop effective communication skills, provide a safe space to openly explore and discuss your vulnerabilities and challenge any ineffective and maladaptive behaviours, thoughts, and belief systems, and help you create relationship goals and take action towards them.
What to do when the partner is unwilling to take couple counselling sessions?
If your partner is refusing to take couple counselling sessions or is unable to due to other commitments, you can attend individual therapy which can also help you work on your relationship issues. Even when one person in the relationship changes, it can have a positive impact on the whole relationship. You may continue taking individual sessions until your partner is willing to join you, or even have the option of having them occasionally join for some sessions.
Is therapy only for people with severe relationship issues?
No, anyone, regardless of whether or not they have ‘real’ issues in their relationship and regardless of the severity of the issues can benefit from taking therapy. You can take approach a therapist if there is a conflict, to prevent conflicts, to work out disagreements – and in the absence of all these – to just enhance an already-good relationship. Couple therapy can help strengthen your relationship bond and foster healthy communication.
What issues can a couple come to a therapist for?
Anything that involves both of you, or involves one person’s way affecting another – can be subjects of couple therapy. A couple therapist can handle a variety of issues including miscommunication or lack of communication, addiction, sexuality, affairs, grief and loss, life transitions, divorce/ blended families/ remarriage, mental health issues, money/ parenting/ other power struggles, boundary issues, family of origin/ extended families issues, disconnection or losing the ‘love’ feeling, etc.
