Emma and Jim have been dating for years and recently decided to move in together. At first, everything was great. They loved being around each other and felt like they were taking their relationship to the next level.
For the past few months, though, Jim’s found himself more stressed out by work than usual. Emma wants to help in any way she can, so she’s been waking up early every day to make Jim coffee, sending him encouragement every single time he feels down, and generally revolving her life around Jim’s wellbeing. While these acts were manageable at first, Emma has realized she’s lost her identity, and Jim has realized that he doesn’t know if he can handle stress on his own anymore.
Knowing something needed to change, they decided to reach out to a relationship counselor who helped them realize they’d become codependent. Now, therapy sessions are teaching Emma and Jim about how to support each other as partners while maintaining healthy boundaries.
Relationship counseling provides couples with a safe place to discuss their problems, learn healthy habits, and build a stronger connection. If your relationship has hit a snag and you’d like support, consider relationship counseling at Thriveworks Counseling in Anchorage, AK. Call our office or use our simple online scheduling tool to get started today.
When To Pursue Relationship Counseling
Dealing with friction and arguments is a normal part of any relationship. For that reason, many people often wait to bring their issues to a couples counselor or therapist. However, many professionals encourage people to reach out for help before things seem like they’re on the brink of disaster.
Some common reasons that couples want to start working with a counselor include:
- Frequent conflicts
- Trouble communicating
- Trust and commitment issues
- Attachment insecurities
- Mental health and substance abuse issues
- Intimacy issues
- Differences in parenting styles
- Financial strain
- Emotional distance
- Grief or loss of a loved one
Couples can deal with these issues at all stages of their relationships, whether they’re dating, engaged, or married. Wherever you are in your relationship, clients who bring these kinds of issues can see how working through them with a professional improves their relationships and makes them more confident in who they are as a partner.
You also don’t need to be facing a specific issue to go into therapy or counseling. Some couples start sessions to get a “check-up” or to work on strengthening one part of a relationship where they otherwise feel strong. Other times, couples come in with the sense that something is “off,” though they can’t pinpoint a specific reason.
Counseling or therapy can help couples resolve their disagreements and work toward a common purpose. Consider reaching out to Thriveworks Counseling in Anchorage, AK, if you want to start working with a mental health professional.
How Does Couples Counseling Help?
Deciding to go to couples counseling or therapy is an important first step that shows both you and your partner are willing to put in the work for your relationship. What that work looks like in your sessions can depend on a few components, most notably, the issue you are experiencing.
Your provider will help you best address and resolve conflict through different forms of therapy, including:
- The Gottman Method
- Imago Relationship Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Narrative therapy
It is not uncommon for relationship counselors to combine these therapies to provide you best care possible. Though the methods of treatment can differ slightly, these forms of counseling all emphasize the importance of skills and practices such as:
- Setting healthy boundaries
- Active listening and open communication
- Identification and acceptance of personal responsibility
- Emotional vulnerability
- Conflict solving strategies
Attending therapy or counseling means you and your partner will have a professional to help you develop clear and actionable goals to build and reinforce these skills. No matter where you’re at in your relationship, working with a counselor or therapist from Thriveworks Counseling in Anchorage, AK, can help you solve your problems and grow closer as a couple.
Meet With a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Thriveworks in Anchorage, AK
Couples therapy and marriage counseling can help you overcome the issues you’re facing as a couple. Your provider will help you understand your challenges and move forward as one.
We understand that finding time for mental health care can be difficult, especially when scheduling appointments for multiple people. At Thriveworks Counseling in Anchorage, AK, we offer evening and weekend sessions to help you fit therapy into your busy schedule.
Some of our clients love our online appointment options –– you can work with a provider over a video chat or a phone call. We won’t put you on a waitlist, and many of our new clients can see a professional within 24-48 hours.
Couples therapy or marriage counseling can help you strengthen your relationship with your significant other. Call our office at Thriveworks Counseling in Anchorage, AK, to set up your first appointment.