

{"id":52865,"date":"2020-07-08T07:14:35","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T07:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=52865"},"modified":"2023-07-14T13:52:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T13:52:58","slug":"overcoming-relationship-difficulties-through-marriage-counseling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/counseling\/overcoming-relationship-difficulties-through-marriage-counseling\/","title":{"rendered":"Overcoming Relationship Difficulties Through Marriage Counseling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-52818\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/overcoming-relationship-difficulties-through-marriage-counseling.jpg\" alt=\"Unsmiling Couple Sitting On The Couch In Therapist Office\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Relationships will always be one of the most important aspects of our life that brings happiness into our lives. <\/span><b>Having a healthy relationship with our friends, colleagues, and our loved ones makes us productive, gives us a sound mind<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It also serves as a source where we can get love, support, and advice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Counsellor Alina Apopei describes a &lsquo;good relationship&rsquo; as:<\/b><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;Every relationship is different but there are main factors that contribute to strong relationships. Each relationship is built around trust because this enables us to communicate effectively and form strong bonds. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good relationship comes with a level of mindfulness that makes you aware of what you say and do and that helps to support a strong relationship.&rdquo;<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/ways-to-build-a-strong-marriage\/\"><b>strong relationships<\/b><\/a><b> that bring us fulfillment are not easy to achieve<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A great deal of work, time, commitment, social skills, and energy to stay strong and sacrifice is required to achieve it. Most times, our relationships with our loved ones, friends, or work colleagues don&rsquo;t work out and this can make us feel disappointed, unsure of ourselves, and leave us lonely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alina says,<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;Respect plays a huge role in a healthy relationship because it means that there is an understanding between each other regarding values and specific needs. Finally, good communication helps people to form a bond and so, being honest and open helps to enhance the connection, which leads to relationships that stand the test of time&rdquo;<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counseling for relationship problems is one option that is available whenever we need help to fix any relationship issues. It offers the <\/span><b>opportunity to express your needs, your concerns, and also what you expect from your relationships whether as an individual or as a couple<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you speak to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/experts\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marriage counselor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you will get the guidance and support you need to get you through the rough patches in your marriage. Also, you will learn new things about yourself to see you through the dark path.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-is-marriage-counseling\"><\/span>What is marriage counseling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-52819\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/what-is-marriage-counseling.jpg\" alt=\"Man And A Woman Holding Hands At A Wooden Table\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriage counseling is also called couple therapy. It&rsquo;s a psychotherapy that helps couples of all types who face relationship issues to find a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/conflict-resolution-techniques\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resolution to their conflict<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and put their relationships back on track.&nbsp;<\/span><b>It is a safe space that provides the opportunity for couples to make thoughtful decisions about improving and rebuilding their relationship or getting a divorce.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriage counselors, also known as marriage and family therapists, are licensed therapists who provide marriage counseling services. They have gone through several stages of education to get graduate or postgraduate degrees in related fields. Many choose to further specialize in counseling and get the accreditation to practice professionally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Couple therapy depends on the situation in the relationship but is usually short term<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Typically, it involves the couples, but a partner might decide to work alone with a therapist. The therapy is done on a case-by-case basis as no two cases are the same.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why-do-couples-seek-marriage-counseling\"><\/span>Why do couples seek marriage counseling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you are seeking <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/pre-marriage\/premarital-counseling-everything-you-wanted-to-know\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">premarital counseling<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or are hesitating because of the sexual orientation, counseling for couples will prove worth your visit for all kinds of intimate relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reason why marriage counseling works is because <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/9-ways-to-manage-the-ups-and-downs-in-your-relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">every relationship goes through its own ups and downs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is not always that you&rsquo;d have a solution to the difficulties in relationships, that is when you should seek help from an expert to head in the right direction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most couples planning to get married seek couples counseling. Premarital counseling helps couples understand each other and resolve any noticeable differences before marriage. One of the reasons is that <\/span><b>it helps married couples to understand and <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/8-tips-to-improve-communication-in-your-relationship\/\"><b>communicate better with each other<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some couples seek a therapist who can assist them in improving their troubled relationship. Marriage counseling can help with any specific issues listed below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anger<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sex-related problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communication issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infidelity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Substance abuse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conflicts about raising children<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can address issues of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/about\/division\/activities\/partner-abuse.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">domestic abuse<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, <\/span><b>counseling alone is not enough, especially where the violence has escalated to a point where the threat of danger is high.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;In such cases where violence is imminent, contact the police or a domestic violence center or a local shelter for support.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marriage counseling provides a secure haven for couples<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to come together for group therapy sessions. Engaging with a therapist will provide the opportunity to learn new skills to help you nurture your relationship such as<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Problem-solving<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dartmouth.edu\/eap\/library\/comunic1.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to communicate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> your views in a disagreement<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open communication<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the counseling sessions,<\/span><b> you will talk about every aspect of your relationship<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This will create an avenue to better understand the sources of disagreements and conflicts. It enables couples to examine situations and learn how to improve them and without blaming each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>You&rsquo;ll talk about the positives and negatives of your relationship<\/strong>. You will also be able to mark the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/335644352_How_Do_Couples_Disagree_An_Analysis_of_Conflict_Resolution_Profiles_and_the_Quality_of_Romantic_Relationships\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">points of conflict and disagreement.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You both will learn to recognize your differences and know how to examine what are the areas that need improvement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Counsellor Linda Helena Boutet says:<\/b><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&ldquo;<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counselling gives us space to be the truest version of ourselves, offering us the opportunity to look at what we, as individuals, really want from our relationships.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It offers us the opportunity to explore our past and current experiences of being close to others, and what this means for us, whilst working to strengthen our sense of self so we no longer feel bewildered by the relationships we choose and patterns of behaviour we adopt throughout our lives. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counselling can lead us to a greater sense of ourselves in the world, and a deeper understanding of our relationships<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&rdquo;<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-are-the-benefits-of-marriage-counseling\"><\/span>What are the benefits of marriage counseling?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-52820\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/what-are-the-benefits-of-marriage-counseling.jpg\" alt=\"What Are The Benefits Of Marriage Counseling\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\">Some of the marriage counseling benefits are as below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>You&rsquo;ll learn to resolve conflicts healthily<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will provide a <\/span><b>platform to learn communication skills<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that will help you become a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/322722211_The_Power_of_Listening_Lending_an_Ear_to_the_Partner_During_Dyadic_Coping_Conversations\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">good listener<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and improve communication with your spouse.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Improved Communication<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>ability to state your opinion or views <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on any issue without anger or resentment is a key ingredient for a prosperous marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>You become less offensive<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In marriage counseling, couples get to learn how to say what they want without engaging in conflicts. Both <\/span><b>partners constructively talk about their issues<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without shifting blame and hurting their partner&rsquo;s feelings.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>You become better at processing unresolved issues<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You will learn how to express your feelings when you feel hurt. It provides a haven where you can do this. <\/span><b>A trained professional can help you express your feelings openly without fear<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. During the process, you might learn that your partner is willing to resolve the marriage issues. You may also learn that your partner is unwilling to work with you. If this turns out to be the case, then you can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/divorce\/how-to-leave-a-marriage-peacefully\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">leave the marriage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> knowing that you did your best to save it.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Safe Space<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counselors provide couples with a safe space to express emotions that they may never have expressed before. <\/span><b>They help you have a fairer picture of the relationship with no judgments.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the video below, Michelle Obama talks about how marriage counseling helped her find support and build her life that works for her. Listen to her below:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WPFa23sZ7AY\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the hustle and bustle of life today, marriage counseling is a welcome choice to fix problems in the relationship rather than sitting on it. So, seek advice from an expert and build a stronger relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Relationships will always be one of the most important aspects of our life that brings happiness into our lives. Having a healthy relationship with our friends, colleagues, and our loved ones makes us productive, gives us a sound mind. It also serves as a source where we can get love, support, and advice. Counsellor Alina Apopei describes a &lsquo;good relationship&rsquo; as: &ldquo;Every relationship is different but there are main factors that contribute to strong relationships. Each relationship is built around trust because this enables us to communicate effectively and form strong bonds. A good relationship comes with a level of <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":702,"featured_media":52818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[2669],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52865"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/702"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52865"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52865\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53061,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52865\/revisions\/53061"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52865"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52865"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52865"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}