The poet Alfred Tennyson once wrote of a loved one, “If I had a flower for every time I thought of you… I could walk through my garden forever.” Unfortunately, all the times that we think of our significant others aren’t across-the-board positive. Sometimes our intimate partners make us angry. Sometimes they cause us deep hurt. And other times their actions confuse us. But whatever the context, positive or negative, they certainly occupy a lot of mental space. That’s why it’s important to keep those relationships healthy and strong. If our partners are going to take up so much room in our psyches, then we should make the conditions favorable.
Couples therapy and marriage counseling at Thriveworks in Kingwood, TX is a way of cultivating healthier relationships with intimate partners. You and your partner don’t need to be in crisis to see a couples counselor. There’s always room for mutual growth in a relationship. This growth might happen naturally over time, but a relationship can mature a lot more quickly–and with a lot less heartache–with some professional guidance. The marriage and relationship counselors at Thriveworks in the Houston, TX area can give couples the tools they need to nourish themselves and their bonds.
Does Couples Counseling Really Work?
The vast majority of couples who do relationship therapy emerge satisfied from the experience. This means that they accomplished what they set out to accomplish. Granted, different couples have different goals. One couple might need help navigating a tricky divorce so the children don’t unduly suffer. Another couple might need help with physical intimacy issues (sex therapy). And yet another couple might feel like they’re doing great, but they’d like tips on how to maintain their harmony in the long-term.
So one of the first things couples do when they arrive for couples counseling is talk to the licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) about their goals. At Thriveworks in Kingwood, TX, couples may want to work on any of the following subjects:
- Communication
- Mutual trust
- Displays of affection
- Emotion management
- Addiction or substance abuse issues
- The effects of serious life changes like marriage, illness, and aging
- Parenting
- Extended family conflicts
What Is the Best Approach to Marriage Counseling?
There’s no single best approach to marriage counseling. Great therapists respond to the needs and personalities of individual clients. At Thriveworks in Kingwood, TX, relationship counseling takes numerous client factors into consideration:
- Goals
- Communication styles
- Mental health conditions
- Trauma
- Underlying beliefs
- Unspoken dynamics
- Body language
- Subconscious desires
A fully licensed, qualified therapist can help couples tell the real story of their relationship. A therapist facilitates open, safe discussion about what each partner really needs, whether that be to feel more loved, to model a great relationship for the kids, or to create healthy boundaries.
What Are Standard Couples Therapy Exercises?
Relationship issues can be approached from a variety of different therapeutic perspectives. Some couples therapists at Thriveworks in Kingwood, TX prefer the Gottman method while others prefer emotionally focused therapy. But there are a few couples therapy exercises that counselors use fairly consistently across different modalities. They are:
- State of the union meetings, where couples schedule routine checkups to talk about their relationship
- Writing a wishlist, where couples can express their individual needs
- Showing regular gratitude, where couples express appreciation for each other
- Writing love letters to each other, where couples can remember why they connected
How Do I Find a Couples Therapist or Marriage Counselor?
Before you begin your search for the best couples therapist or marriage counselor for you and your partner, it can help to familiarize yourself with some basic criteria:
- The counselor should be fully licensed in Texas. All Thriveworks mental health providers are fully licensed, nationwide, and recruited from the top 4% of providers.
- The therapist should be affordable. Thriveworks couples therapists and marriage counselors accept most major health insurance plans and offer reasonable self-pay rates for clients paying out-of-pocket.
- The therapist should have experience working with your specific issue. For example, at Thriveworks in Kingwood, TX, providers have helped diverse couples like same-sex, Christian, engaged (for premarital counseling), and interracial.
Reconnect with Your Spouse with Marriage Counseling at Thriveworks in Kingwood, TX
Thriveworks LFMTs love working with couples in Houston who are experiencing relationship problems and obstacles. It’s gratifying to be able to help loved ones navigate their issues and emerge stronger on the other side.
You can call the Thriveworks office in Kingwood, TX today and meet with a top-rated counselor as early as tomorrow. Most first-time Thriveworks clients have an initial session in fewer than 24-48 hours. Therapy can take place in-person at the modern office, or virtually through convenient online counseling sessions. In addition, Thriveworks clients can access their provider by phone or email between sessions.
Call the Thriveworks office today or book your session online and find out how you can strengthen your relationship with your partner. We look forward to hearing from you!