What Should I Ask My Marriage Therapist
For many couples, the biggest decision about therapy is when to actually seek it out. There is often an internal pressure to make things work on your own and a fear that going to marriage counseling means your relationship is in jeopardy. The opposite is true; reaching out to a professional marriage counselor sooner than later can help you foster greater trust, intimacy and communication, which prevents major issues from arising due to unresolved tensions.
When you decide to seek counseling, you’re making an investment in both your individual and shared happiness. Marriage does not come with a handbook, so every couple has to navigate the journey together and learn what works for them. In many cases, this means learning how to become more receptive to a partner’s needs rather than expecting them to automatically be in sync with your own. This process is an understandable struggle for many, but a marriage therapist can help you work toward building a closer bond and overcoming challenges together.
Below are a few questions you may find helpful to explore with the help of a licensed couples counselor. By answering these questions as a couple, you’ll gain greater insight into your relationship and learn how to love each other more even through hardship.
How Can I Be a Better Partner?
Resolving personal struggles, improving communication and having a sense of humor help people grow as individuals within the larger context of their relationship. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to a happy marriage, and we encourage every couple to find their unique flow and harmony. Before becoming a “better” partner, your therapist can help you explore your current strengths and identify areas in which your relationship could improve.
Is Our Marriage “Good Enough” to Stay Together?
Many couples, especially newlyweds, falsely believe that their relationship has to be “perfect” in order to be worthwhile. True commitment, however, embraces the nuances and imperfections of each individual without expecting anyone to fundamentally change or conform. It’s unlikely you’ll ever find or be a person who doesn’t require some type of compromise; life and love are all about a healthy balance of giving and receiving. A marriage that is “good enough” can certainly be more than enough for two people who love each other and dedicate themselves to one another.
How Should Spouses Behave During Conflict?
It’s a natural tendency for human beings to dwell more on the negative attributes of a person when they’re angry or displeased with them. In a marriage, this can be detrimental if you both wind up breaking trust, developing fear of rejection, or leave thoughts and feelings unvoiced or unacknowledged. Communication in a healthy marriage requires empathy and a willingness to hear your partner out even when you don’t like what they’re saying.
Therapy can help you learn how to deal with conflict in a marraige and grow closer through your shared struggles and differences.
The Benefits of Couples Counseling
Couples counseling helps spouses and life partners overcome a wide range of obstacles throughout their journey. Whether you’ve been together for a year or 30, there is always opportunity to grow and love each other more deeply. If you would like to learn more about our couples and marriage counseling services, please contact us at Foundations Family Counseling today.
