Maybe you and your spouse have been fighting more often. You’re concerned about the future of your relationship, but part of you still feels like you should try to fix the situation on your own rather than turning to outside help. Alternatively, perhaps you and your spouse have grown distant. Your connection lacks the spark it used to have. Yet you’ve told yourself that your situation isn’t “bad” enough to warrant working with a couples counselor.
Many married couples believe they shouldn’t seek counseling unless their marriage has reached a breaking point. But in reality, you do not have to wait to pursue counseling until you’re facing a genuine crisis. Here’s why you shouldn’t put off couples counseling if you’re worried about your marriage.
Starting Early is a Smart Decision
There are many misconceptions about couples counseling. Lots of people think that couples counseling is only for couples who are on the brink of divorce. But this damaging idea actually discourages couples in need from seeking support at the first signs of trouble.
In fact, working with a counselor early on can keep a bad situation from getting even worse. You can nip problems in the bud before they escalate. Furthermore, couples counselors are also happy to work with couples who are not dealing with any immediate issues but still want to work on conflict resolution skills in order to prepare for potential future roadblocks.
Preventing a Future Crisis
No matter what you and your partner are going through, it’s always best to address an issue when you initially realize that a problem is brewing under the surface. Trying to ignore a problem can lead to resentment between you and your spouse.
Therefore, taking your problems into counseling well before you develop resentful feelings is similar to taking preventative measures against an illness. If you can deal with the root cause of the issue, you can save your marriage a lot of strife.
Learn Valuable Skills
Lots of couples assume that counseling sessions involve nothing more than talking about their feelings. But much of couples counseling is actually centered around learning concrete skills that will help you communicate more effectively outside of therapy.
Many people do not learn healthy communication skills from their families. This can negatively affect their relationships as an adult. By working with a couples counselor, you and your partner can polish your communication skills and learn to work through tough conversations independently, preventing future misunderstandings.
Work Through Conflicts with Guidance
If you’re dealing with ongoing conflicts in your relationship, you might feel like you and your spouse get into arguments on a near-daily basis. You may feel exhausted, frustrated, and worn down. But perhaps seeing things from a different perspective would help both of you navigate these conflicts and find compromises that work for you as a team.
You can bring specific issues to your counselor, and they can walk you through a productive conversation during sessions. This can help prevent conflicts from spiraling into something bigger.
Grow as an Individual
What if you’re worried that the problems in your relationship could be connected to issues you’ve been dealing with as an individual, separate from your partner? You don’t have to put off individual counseling, either. You can work with a therapist on your own, and so can your partner if they’re interested.
By putting effort into your personal growth, you can reach your full potential and bring your best self to your relationship.
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Are you grappling with a marriage crisis? Working with a couples counselor can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.