Relationships are one of the most important aspects of our lives, so when we face challenges in our marriage or relationship it has a significant impact on each partner’s overall health and well-being.
Research shows that to make a relationship last, couples must learn to manage conflict, create ways to support one another and become better friends. This might seem commonplace, but often it becomes harder and harder. So when should a couple consider couples therapy?
What Is Couples Therapy?
Couples counseling is a type of therapy that helps a couple work through challenges and ultimately understand one another better to develop healthier ways of relating to one another.
The words couples therapy can sound startling or even ill-fated, but taking the step to reach out for help is a healthy way of approaching an issue. It can signify that two people wish to work on their relationship in an intentional way.
When is the Right Time to See a Couples Therapist?
Couples seek therapy for a wide variety of reasons, and thus there is no one right time to begin your couples therapy journey. That’s because no two relationships are the same and dynamics and situations vary greatly. However, there are some relatively common factors to look for when considering couples therapy.
Perpetual or Reoccurring Issues
If you and your partner often argue or fight about the same thing, this is referred to as perpetual or recurring issues. These might be struggle points where the two of you cannot come to a compromise or resolution. Many couples come to marriage therapy because they’re dealing with a specific challenge, such as communication or intimacy issues, affairs, or considering a breakup. These difficulties might be related to finances, children or extended family challenges.
When a recurring conflict keeps breaking down, then it might be time to consider marriage or couples counseling. A couples therapist can help identify the root of a perpetual issue and provide ways to communicate with one another. This helps to ensure progress is made versus having the same fight over and over to only accomplish more hurt.
Transitions
The only constant in life is change, and this can breed challenges for relationships. It might be having a new baby, changing careers, or relocating to a new city. Transitions can lead to challenges in a relationship that may feel too daunting to work through alone. A couples therapist can help navigate through these transitions before they evolve into longer-term issues for you and your partner.
Disconnection
One of the strongest indicators that it is time to seek marriage therapy is when one or both partners feels disconnected. Perhaps you’ve hit a wall and you don’t even want to argue or talk about the conflicts you’re facing together. This means it’s critical to begin couples therapy. Don’t wait any longer to talk to your partner about attending therapy and contact a couples therapist.
Why Couples Therapy is Not Just for Troubled Relationships
Many couples assume that a relationship needs to be in distress or a high level of conflict to warrant seeing a couples or marriage counselor. That is simply not the case. In fact, it is a good idea to seek couples therapy as a preventative measure to ensure your relationship stays healthy for years to come. There is a wide variety of common topics that couples therapy can help by building communication skills within the marriage or relationship.
Preventative Maintenance
Just like you do routine maintenance on your vehicle to ensure it stays humming, couples therapy can be considered preventative maintenance but to keep your relationship healthy and on track. One can think of it as being proactive with the most cherished part of your life – the person you love and your partner in life.
Improve Connection
You don’t have to be confronting deep issues to still benefit from improved connection. Couples therapy gives you the tools in your toolbox that you can pull from when life throws that pesky wrench. Learn better communication skills, which paths to avoid, and how to tend to your relationship and each other’s emotional needs through a variety of types of couples counseling.
Anytime is the Right Time
Most couples can benefit from preventive therapy, but taking action well before there is a crisis in a relationship is the best timeline. Ultimately, anytime that you decide your relationship can benefit from an outside perspective and professional guidance is the right time to begin couples therapy.
Begin Couples Therapy In Tampa, FL
Most of us are seeking more balance and well-being in our lives but might not be sure how to get there. We offer couples therapy to help you achieve the connection and healthy relationship that you both deserve. Improving your relationship starts with a single step to reach out for help.
Our doctoral-level therapists specialize in couples therapy from our Tampa-based therapy practice, our St. Petersburg-based therapy practice, or through virtual therapy. We have assisted hundreds of couples in creating healthier relationships. To start your therapy journey, please contact us today.