Strengthening Ties with Couples Counseling: 3 Important Things You Learn in Couples Therapy
When distress arises in relationships, couples counseling is often recommended to help invoke empathy and understanding among partners. Research has also shown that couples therapy has both, short-term as well as long-term effects on relationships.
What are some of the key lessons you and your partner can learn through counseling sessions? Let’s take a look.
You Need To Keep Yourself Accountable
One of the most important lessons you learn in couples therapy is how to keep yourself accountable for things you do or say. It takes two to tango, after all, and you can’t put all the blame on your partner without any taking accountability whatsoever. Therapy teaches you how to acknowledge, accept, and address your own shortcomings and faults instead of becoming increasingly defensive or upset when these are pointed out by your partner. This helps in becoming more self-aware and strengthening the bond you and your partner share.
Couples therapy teaches both partners a bunch of relaxation techniques to enable their ability to take ownership and accountability. It opens the doors for stronger communication between them, while also teaching them how to be more open-minded and flexible. Furthermore, it allows for self-reflection and teaches both partners to first be accountable for their own mistakes before jumping to conclusions and playing the blame game.
Vulnerability Is Part of the Process
Another thing that couples therapy teaches you is that you can’t expect to work out your issues and have a trusting relationship without being vulnerable. We know; vulnerability is a scary thing. It can be extremely difficult to open up to somebody and share with them your most private thoughts and insecurities.
However, when you’re in a romantic relationship, you need to be a little vulnerable with your partner. It’s important for building emotional intimacy and having a deeper connection with each other. The more open you are with your partner, the better they’ll be able to understand you. Similarly, if your partner is more vulnerable in front of you, you’ll be able to understand their conflicts and struggles better.
Vulnerability gives both partners a chance to learn more about each other, while also helping them realize when to tread delicately. As a result, it helps them grow closer.
Things Might Feel Worse Before They Get Better
Finally, couples therapy helps you realize that in order for things to get better, they may first have to get worse. Talking about your relationship issues and other sensitive topics can be uncomfortable. You may struggle a lot initially to discuss certain things or resolve specific arguments.
However, over the course of sessions, you’ll learn better ways to address these issues. It may be unpleasant and even painful to have everything out in the open, but this is how you both can address the problem and move forward together.
At Comprehensive Counseling Services, LLC, we offer a range of mental health counseling services. We also provide couples therapy winder as well as family therapy.
Learn more about our services in Winder here.
