Relationships take work. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been with your significant other for a year, 10 years, or 30 years. Being in a partnership means giving and receiving support, being empathetic, and focusing on transparent communication.
Sometimes though, growing with another person brings some complications. Of course, all couples, new and old alike, have their issues. Disagreements can be part of any healthy relationship, romantic or otherwise. But if you’re feeling like the issues you and your partner are facing are persistent or that you’re not sure how to even begin navigating a difficult situation you’ve found yourself in, it might be a good idea to reach out to a couples counselor. Ignoring the feeling that something is “off” can weigh on your mental health and the health of your relationship.
While it may seem intimidating, reaching out to a mental health professional doesn’t necessarily mean anything is “wrong” with your relationship. On the contrary, it just means that you and your partner are committed to working through your problems together with the help of a trained, outside perspective.
That’s totally normal — we all need help sometimes. At Thriveworks in Bismarck, ND, our relationship counselors are here for you when you’re ready.
When Is Relationship Counseling a Good Fit?
Maybe you know exactly why you’d like to go to couples counseling or maybe you’re not sure if it would be a good fit for you. Couples come to therapy for all sorts of reasons, but some of the more common ones include:
- Trust issues
- Communication issues
- Financial troubles or disagreements
- Opposing values and perspectives (such as politics)
- Dissatisfaction with your sex life
- Differing parenting styles
- Feelings of jealousy
- The loss of a loved one
- Substance abuse issues
- Feeling a lack of intimacy
If you’re worried that your problems aren’t big enough or are too big to be solved in therapy, let us reassure you that our couples therapists at Thriveworks in Bismarck, ND are trained and prepared to help on a wide range of issues.
Reasons To Consult a Couples Counselor
From couples counseling to marriage and family therapy, we offer different kinds of therapy to best address the needs of your relationship. No matter what kind of partnership you’re in, your Thriveworks provider will take the time to get to know you and your partner before laying out a plan of treatment.
This might mean initially, you and your partner attend individual sessions before the two of you start attending sessions together. In your therapy sessions, you’ll talk about the good and the bad to figure out the source of your problems and discuss them in a blame-free way focused on growth and improvement.
During therapy sessions, you might work on:
- Using “I statements” such as “I feel frustrated” instead of attack-driven language like “You’re selfish and wrong”
- Open lines of communication so you can discuss differences rationally
- Accepting personal responsibility and validating your partner’s feelings
- Developing problem-solving strategies that best work for you as a couple
Of course, you’ll be talking about vulnerable and sensitive topics. It’s possible, and even very likely, that you and your partner may get angry or upset with each other in front of your therapist. Your Thriveworks provider is a trained professional who is accustomed to conflict and will be there to help facilitate those conversations in a healthy and collaborative way.
Couples therapy is typically intended to be a short-term solution. While you’ll by no means be rushed when solving your problems, your provider will teach you the strategies you need to take the lessons learned in your sessions beyond therapy and into your everyday life. People who go through couples therapy often find that the work they’ve done to improve their communication and listening skills actually helps to improve their family and work relationships as well.
When you’re ready to address your issues and work on building a stronger bond, reach out to us at Thriveworks in Bismarck, ND. We’re dedicated to helping you find a positive path forward.
Start Couples Therapy or Marriage Counseling at Thriveworks in Bismarck, ND
If you’re ready to take the first step toward a brighter tomorrow, we’re ready to help you. Click or call our team to schedule an appointment online or in person. We have availability in the mornings, evenings, and weekends to best accommodate your schedule. We also accept most major insurance carriers and offer affordable rates for those paying out of pocket.
In addition, signing up with Thriveworks means you’ll have phone and email access to your therapist or counselor in between sessions, as well as several other online resources, like our counselor-moderated forums and text message support line.
We know relationships can be hard but we’re here to help. Schedule an appointment with us at Thriveworks in Bismarck, ND today.
