Does Couples Therapy Help Relationships?

No matter what your background is, all relationships go through rough patches. Relationships always take work, and difficult life circumstances can put any bond under pressure. Couples therapy has become increasingly popular, and many can attest that couples therapy does indeed help relationships to recover from rifts and bumps in the road. Let’s take a look at what’s involved in modern couples therapy.

How Couples Therapy Works

An experienced therapist, particularly one with a strong background in marriage and family counseling, can help you get to the root of your relationship problems. Once these issues have been identified, you and your partner can begin the process of correcting destructive behaviors and learning skills that will help you deal with conflicts. Some of the main issues couples therapy does help with include:

• Communication

• Overcoming infidelity

• Setting goals

• Resolving conflict

• Resolving relationship problems

• Managing anger or other difficult feelings

• Adapting to life transitions and challenges

• Identifying relationship roles

• Building trust

It Takes Two to Tango

Whether or not couples therapy helps relationships does depend largely on the involvement of each partner. Both people must recognize that problems are occurring in their relationship and be willing to participate in therapy to try and fix the issues. With the help of a licensed therapist, committed partners can work together to learn the tools and skills necessary to carry over positive behaviors into their daily life situations, and not just in the counseling office. In most cases, at least 12 sessions are needed to effectively help couples heal, create lasting change, and rekindle the romance they once had.

What Do the Statistics Say?

In the USA today, couples therapy does help about 70% of the people who receive it. Nearly 50% of married couples have sought help in therapy. As mentioned above, couples therapy is most effective when both partners are committed to the process. For those couples where only one partner sees a problem, therapy may be more of a struggle. In a small percentage of cases, therapy may help confirm that a relationship won’t work and isn’t meant to be.

Does Online Couples Therapy Help?

With recent changes in the economy due to the pandemic, many couples are now seeking therapy online as a convenient alternative. In a 2020 study on teletherapy for couples, most participants were satisfied and comfortable with online therapy sessions. For some, the safety and familiarity of their home provide a more conducive setting than the therapy office.

If you are considering couples therapy, then I encourage you to take the first step and book a session today. You already recognize that your relationship could be improved, and couples therapy may be just what you need to create a more fulfilling and loving bond with your partner. Contact me today at Erik Anderson Therapy.

FAQs

What types of therapy are used in couples therapy?

Emotionally focused couples therapy is an approach with a strong evidence base. This modality helps couples to identify and replace negative behaviors and create new bonding experiences.

Family systems therapy is the foundation of all couples therapy and helps improve communication by introducing feedback and changing stuck patterns.

How long does couples therapy take to help relationships improve?

Couples therapy sessions generally last 50 minutes, and it usually takes about 12 total sessions for a therapist to help couples identify issues, improve their communication, and begin to develop skills to strengthen their relationship in the long-term. However, the length of treatment varies significantly between couples.

Will couples therapy make things worse?

When couples therapy is facilitated by a licensed and experienced therapist, it is very unlikely to make your relationship worse.

Does couples therapy help members of the LGBTQ+ community?

Couples therapy is an effective tool for members of the LGBTQ+ community to improve their relationships. A therapist with experience in working with LGBTQ+ couples can help you overcome the obstacles you face and build closer bonds.

What relationship stages can go to couples therapy?

Couples therapy is for any partnership, regardless of marital status. Couples therapy can help those dating, those who have been together for a long time, those deciding to get married, or any stage of a committed relationship.