The decision to start couples counseling isn’t always an easy one. However, many couples that choose to participate in marriage or couples counseling have proven to have long-term success. Couples counseling can improve your communication, strengthen your relationships, and create better interactions between you and your significant other.
According to the American Psychological Association, couples therapy is now 75% effective, when using the current practice of Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). Couples counseling challenges you and your partner to be open and truthful, creating a long-term, positive habit within your relationship. You’ll work through different areas of your relationship to help strengthen the overall foundation. Many couples benefit from couples counseling due to the long term effect it has on communication, intimacy, understanding of your partner, and trust. Couples counseling can identify and solve a lot of challenges that might be interfering with your relationship.
Studies have shown counseling has helped improved relationships in the following areas:
Better Communication
Successful communication is a vital part of a healthy relationship. It is a way for individuals to share their feelings, expressions, and opinions with each other. Poor communication within your relationship could lead to an unhealthy connection and future challenges. Individuals who don’t communicate well in a relationship often see a boost in conflict and argumentative behavior, potentially jeopardizing the relationship even more. It is important that you talk with your significant other and use tools to communicate effectively.
Here at Cornerstone, our therapists are experienced in identifying ways individuals can communicate better. We’ll help you identify what works for your relationship and better understand how your partner communicates in their own way.
Deeper Intimacy
Intimacy is another important aspect of any relationship. Intimacy can mean different things for different couples, but it helps to create a stronger bond and trust within a relationship. It allows couples to be open and vulnerable with each other.
Four types of intimacy exist within a relationship: emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical. These four types of intimacy should be utilized to satisfy specific needs within the relationship. A lack of intimacy can lead to issues such as anger, infidelity, self-esteem issues, less communication, and loneliness. Challenges that result from a lack of intimacy could put a strain on your partnership. Couples counseling helps to create an open discussion about your challenges when it comes to intimacy. Counselors can help you and your partner create a strong bond with each other and allow you to create a safe space within the relationship.
A Better Understanding of Your Partner
A better understanding of your partner can lead to better communication. It can also encourage you and your significant other to build a safe space for expressing thoughts and feelings. Although sometimes it may be hard to understand where your spouse is coming from, it is important to show empathy and respect for one another. Couples counseling can help you and your partner take necessary steps to build connection and trust needed to understand each other better.
Restored Trust
Building trust in a relationship fosters a sense of security with one another. Trust in your relationship can help bring you closer to your significant other. If a relationship isn’t built on trust, this can significantly affect an individual’s mental health. This is why it is important to see a couples counseling therapist when trust is broken or there is a lack of trust. At Cornerstone, one of our goals is to help you restore trust so you can build an even stronger foundation in your relationship.
Couples counseling can help you achieve a stronger, healthier, and more intimate relationship with your partner. In order for couples counseling to truly work, it is important that you and your partner are both invested and committed to creating a stronger bond together. We at Cornerstone want to help you and your partner create a strong and healthy relationship. Contact us or schedule an appointment to get started.
