Written by Jennifer Ramirez, Medically Reviewed by Damla Ricks
As the saying goes, “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers”. We all know marriage is a work in progress. There is no perfect marriage or a marriage with no fighting. How do you learn to work through the rough patches? Can you both learn from the past and work together towards a stronger relationship?
It’s important to understand you are not alone. Relationship counseling dwells into the challenges and love of committing to one another.
What is Couples Therapy?
Couples counseling involves both partners and is designed to help couples improve their relationship and learn to resolve conflict. Active participation is important from both partners, as couples therapy treats the relationship as one rather than individually. This may involve dwelling into each partner’s background and values. Identify issues that can be a focus for treatment so that you have goals and structure for each session. Therapy can be beneficial for any relationship, including but not limited to straight or gay relationships, interracial relationships, pre-marriage, dating, engaged, or married relationships.
Sessions can be done in-person or via telehealth. Healing First Counseling offers sessions both at our North Richland Hills location as well as anyone virtually within the state of Texas.
Common Reasons Couples Seek Help
Couples counseling is sought out for many reasons. Some clients may do both individual counseling and couples counseling, as improving oneself can have a positive effect on a relationship.
Common issues addressed in therapy can include:
- Intimacy issues
- Infidelity
- Trust issues
- Life Stressors such as job loss, parenting, illness
- Communication issues
- Past trauma
- In-laws
- Addiction (substance/gambling/alcohol)
- Infertility
How Therapy Helps You Reconnect in Marriage
The ultimate goal of therapy is to be able to identify issues and learn to change both behavior and dynamics within the relationship for a stronger understanding. Ultimate results should include:
- Strengthened bond
- Building or rebuilding trust
- Improved communication
- Overall happiness and satisfaction
What to Expect in a Couples Session
More often than not, one partner is eager to start while the other is more hesitant. The unknown on what to expect can be scary and misconceptions can deter one from attending. Let us break it down for you.
The first session is trying to get an understanding of the relationships history; where you relationships has been and where you are now. Issues that want to be addressed will be identified and/or discussed. What are the issues and what are the goals? You are also building a trust rapport with the therapists.
The therapist is there to help build insight into what is causing the problems in the relationships. Through continuous therapy, both partners gain an understanding of dysfunctional patterns and behaviors and how to change and perceive each other. In some cases this can be done with homework and learning to apply the skills you learn in each session.
Some misconceptions can deter your partner. Remember, couples therapy is not just for severe issues like infidelity or addiction. The therapist is there to work with both of you and does not take sides.
Why Choose a Therapist at Healing First Counseling?
Healing First Counseling offers both in-person and telehealth couples and marriage counseling. Our team of therapists are specialized in helping individuals, couples, families and groups improve their quality of life and relationships. We service North Richland Hills and surrounding areas and offer a safe, non-judgmental place for your healing journey.
Damla Ricks is a Licensed Professional Counselor working on her Ph.D. in Family and Marriage Counseling. She is trained in trauma and system based therapy. She works with adults, couples, and families. On the side, she is also a full time college instructor in Communication Studies with 17 years of experience in higher education.