Is Couples Therapy for Us? Debunking the Myths and Reasons for Couples Therapy
Starting couples therapy doesn't have to be just a last effort to save a relationship. Instead, going to therapy for your relationship can be proactive for partners to find ways to learn more about themselves and their relationship. If couples therapy is something you and your partner are considering, here are some myths to debunk starting and common transitions in life that give reasons to begin in therapy today.
Myth #1: You have to be at "rock bottom" to go to couples therapy.
Going to couples therapy shows that you value yourself and your relationship and want to grow and improve. Even strong relationships have areas that they can work out and find ways to strengthen their relationship. Having a neutral person, such as a couples therapist, can help you gain a closer connection and continue onto a strong relationship in the ways you desire the most.
Myth #2: You have to be married.
Married couples aren't the only relationships that can gain from going to therapy together. Whether married, partnered, or coupled, you can benefit from going to therapy for your relationship. For example, in a committed relationship, there are benefits to strengthening your relationship from the start to create a thriving long-term relationship. Also, if you are thinking about marriage, you can decide if marriage is a fit for your relationship and even begin thinking about pre-marital counseling if marriage is the right for you.
So what are some reasons to consider going to couples therapy?
Transitions are a great time to engage in couples therapy, and going to therapy together can help ease the stress of these significant life changes. Here is our life transitions list to consider for couples therapy:
Newly Engaged
Yeah, you're engaged! Becoming engaged is a significant life change; there is no better time to begin pre-marriage counseling. Pre-marital counseling can be a chance to get help talking about challenging subjects like money, having kids, and getting on the same page about marriage expectations.
Blended Families
Blending your family into your relationship is a transition that can bring challenges. Therapy can help build your new relationship or marriage and balance new family dynamics between you and your partner.
Transition Into Parenthood
Bringing home a new baby is exciting and brings recent changes to your relationship dynamic. Therapy can help you balance your relationship and begin learning new parenting skills. It can also help you identify unique stressors and how balance the connection of your relationship with a new baby.
Caring For Aging Parents
Beginning to care for aging parents brings a new stressor to a couple's relationship, and navigating unexpected shifts in caretaking can bring new relationship dynamics. Therapy can help you stay connected to your partner, communicate your needs during this time, and balance caring for your relationship and your parents.
Changing Jobs or Financial Situations
These life transitions can cause conflict for couples, changes in connection, new stressors, and higher conflict. Going to therapy for financial stressors can also help couples gain new communication skills about these complex topics.
Coping With Grief & Loss
Talking about grief isn't just for individual therapy. Talking about a recent or sudden loss of a loved one can help bring understanding and a closer connection to your relationship and communicate deeper feelings of loss with your partner in a supportive space for both of you.
Becoming Empty Nesters
Becoming empty nesters is a huge life transition for couples. You've been doing family together for years, and now it is just you two at home without the kids. While this can be an exciting time for your relationship, it also means new ways of connecting, communicating, and "doing life" together without the kids at home. Couples therapy can help you build the dream of this next phase of life.
