Marriage counseling is an invaluable tool for couples with difficulty in their relationship. It can help people identify issues and work through them, either individually or as a couple.
While all married couples go through ups and downs, there are certain times when marriage counseling might be crucial. Take a look at some of the most common signs that it might be time to schedule an appointment with a counselor.
Constant Arguing
If you find yourself constantly arguing with your partner about the same things over and over again, it might be time to consider marriage counseling. Even if you think you know the underlying issue, having someone objective to talk it out with can help both of you better understand each other's points of view.
A counselor can also offer helpful tips on communicating more effectively and resolving arguments without resorting to shouting matches or hurtful put-downs.
These tips could include taking turns speaking without interruption and listening to each other's perspectives without judgment. Usually, these types of conversations need to be held in a safe, neutral environment to ensure that no one feels attacked or belittled.
Unresolved Hurt Feelings
If you or your partner have unresolved hurt feelings from past issues, therapy can be an invaluable tool for helping both of you heal. For instance, if one of you feels betrayed or abandoned by the other, a marriage counselor can help you express these feelings and work through them in a constructive manner.
Your counselor will likely ask each of you to discuss your feelings without interruption, as this will help you understand the other's perspective. This is especially important if one of you is feeling particularly vulnerable or fragile.
Afterward, your counselor can help you come up with solutions to the problem and discuss ways to prevent it from happening again in the future. This part might lean more toward changing the way you communicate or addressing misunderstandings that have been creating conflict between the two of you.
Lack of Intimacy
If physical intimacy has become non-existent in your marriage, this could indicate that something has gone wrong between the two of you. Most couples experience a dip in their sex life at some point, but if it has been ongoing for a long time, it might be good to seek help.
Whether it's due to unresolved issues from past fights or simply because one partner isn't getting their needs met anymore, talking to a qualified counselor can help you identify potential solutions and get back on track toward rekindling your connection with each other.
This might involve scheduling more quality time together, exploring different forms of physical intimacy (i.e., massage), or even just communicating better and expressing your needs more clearly to each other.
For more information about marriage counseling, contact a local therapy office.
After developing a chronic physical illness, I soon began realizing that the disease plagued my mind almost more than it did my body. While my illness is not life-threatening, it was very difficult accepting that I would have to take medication for the rest of my life and eat a strict diet. After a year of depression, I finally overcame my fear of "exposing" my feelings to others and made an appointment with a mental health counselor. With her help, I was able to see the "silver linings" in life that I had greatly taken for granted before I became ill. I now encourage anyone who is battling an illness of any type to seek the psychological help they need. I plan to post lots of little mental health tips and tricks on my new blog along with advice for choosing a good counselor. Please come back soon!