Couples and Marriage Counseling

Couples counseling is also known as couples therapy, marriage counseling, and marital therapy. These different names are all used to describe the same process. Both partners in the relationship attend the sessions in order to address all issues together. Relationship conflicts often involve individual issues as well as problems between the people in the relationship. An example of this would be if one partner has difficulty controlling their temper, this will produce more arguments within the relationship.

Couples counseling is different from psychotherapy because the focus is on the relationship, not on an individual with a psychological problem. Couples counseling focuses on problems existing between two people in a relationship. If the therapist feels the couple may benefit from it, individual sessions (3 or 4) for each person may help bring stability. Afterwards both individuals are brought back together to continue the relationship building process.

The therapist will help both partners identify the conflict issues within the relationship, help them to decide what changes are necessary, and help to determine what needs to happen in order for both partners to feel satisfied with the relationship.

How Can Couples Counseling Help Us?

Couples counseling may involve learning how to communicate more effectively with each other, and how to listen more closely, build upon your parenting skills, create a more cohesive family unit, learn to adapt to the changes that occur in every relationship, and create the relationship that you both want. Couples also learn how to avoid competing with each other to identify common life goals, and how to share responsibility.

Here are some resources for further research:

• Psychology Information Online
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy