What Is the Goal of Couples Counseling?

People who spend a lot of time together may start to clash. As people grow, they change. The goal is that they learn to evolve together and stay on the same path. It may take guidance to get couples to fix some of the issues they face. Couples counseling may be a great way to help give people the tools they need to reach their relationship goals.

Finding Common Ground

When two people first meet, they typically find all kinds of things they have in common. Perhaps they work in the same business or industry, and so work becomes a unifying topic. Even if two people are opposite at the core, there is something that brings them together. It is normal to go through changes, and the goal in a relationship is to understand and support those changes. In counseling, a big goal is to help two people find what makes them click again. Even when they may not appear to have anything left to unite around, a competent counselor should help them get to a point where they find that common ground.

Improving Communication

Relationships of every kind require excellent communication skills. You can’t be an effective friend or partner if you can’t talk to each other. As people grow and get bogged down with work, kids and social commitments, they may find it more challenging to understand and speak to their partner. One may feel like they are doing all the talking, while the other may feel like they get cut off. Couples counseling can guide partners through tough talks and get them to realize that speaking openly and honestly is possible once again.

Learning How To Resolve Conflicts

Fights happen, even in the most solid relationships. People aren’t always going to be on the same page. Conflicts tend to arise when emotions run high, and if someone can’t keep those emotions from spilling over, it may result in a fight. A neutral third-party point of view might be what it takes to get a couple back in the habit of speaking before arguing. A counselor may be able to help stop an escalation of emotions during therapy sessions and allow the couple to get to the root of the problem without fighting.

Couples therapy may be one way two people can get back to living a happy and productive life together. Whatever issues they may have, a professional therapist should have the resources and wisdom to help them get through the tough times and remind them of why they fell in love in the first place.

 

Source: Couples Therapy Sterling, Lindsay Hoskins & Associates