Couple therapy
Couples therapy is a special type of psychotherapy designed to help a couple overcome challenges, better understand their relationship, and develop healthier ways of relating to each other.
What is couples therapy?
Couples therapy is a special type of psychotherapy designed to help a couple overcome challenges, better understand their relationship, and develop healthier ways of relating to each other. Attending couples therapy or counseling can be a good step in a relationship. It is usually a sign that the members of a couple are committed to each other and consciously and mutually want to improve their relationship.
Couples therapy is a good tool if you are looking for ways to strengthen or improve your relationship. You will acquire the communication skills needed to communicate effectively and develop a mutual partnership. The therapist helps couples break free from repetitive painful dynamics.
Many couples come to couples therapy with specific problems. For example, with communication problems, sexual difficulties, cheating, or because they are already considering a breakup or divorce.
How does couples therapy work?
Within couple therapy, there are many approaches and therapeutic perspectives, from couple therapy with a systemic, narrative, or strategic approach, to emotion-focused therapy, to schema couple therapy, to name just a few. These trends offer the therapist a toolkit and intervention options for problematic situations.
The therapist uses specific therapeutic techniques and interventions to support the couple’s goals and often gives the couple members homework to work on until the next consultation. Ideally, most of the work, according to experience, takes place outside the office. A couple’s therapist teaches couples how to communicate what they need well without the other person getting offended or withdrawing from it.
A therapist knows how to help couples get to the root of the problem and can give them skills or appropriate recommendations.
In couples therapy sessions, she teaches couples new relationship skills, such as how to express your desires without sounding judgmental. The therapist also notices problems that may be a psychological problem (e.g. depression) behind the relationship problem in one member of the couple, which causes them to behave differently than before.
Such mental problems can put a lot of strain on the relationship, and in many cases the couple does not find out that they actually have this kind of problem before seeking help.
A couples therapy session is held on a weekly or biweekly basis, but may be needed at a different frequency. The first few sessions are the diagnostic phase, during which the real root of the problem is revealed with the help of the therapist. They then define the therapeutic goals together.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions.
When should you go to couples therapy?
If you are constantly having recurring fights without a solution, if you feel stuck in dealing with a difficult decision together, if you are estranged from each other and feel like you are living with a stranger, if you are being neglected and if you are considering divorce or separation, or if, for example, there has been infidelity, but the financial problems or trauma also cause a serious source of stress in relationships.
How long will it take for the sessions to produce results?
Couples therapy is a process, but usually relatively soon, even after a few sessions, they can move from the deadlock and the process of improvement can begin. Most relationship problems can be solved in 7-8, maximum 10 sessions.
How often are the sessions?
Every week or two.
Is individual therapy also possible or only together as a couple?
Individual therapy is also available. We will discuss this during the first sessions.
Methods and therapies
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