The author Mark Twain once stated, “To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with.” For many people, an intimate partner is the person they look to when they want to share vivid life experiences. The experiences don’t have to be joyful. Sometimes they’re agonizing, or confusing, or scary. But the presence of a spouse or loved one can ease the burden of pain, or heighten the feelings of happiness. Because love is about sharing.
But what happens when an intimate relationship starts to falter? Then your partner can become a source of pain rather than support. That’s when many couples turn to marriage counseling.
Couples therapy and marriage counseling at Thriveworks in Novi, MI is a healthy way to strengthen your intimate bonds and discover more about yourself, your loved one, and how you relate to each other. The licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) at Thriveworks have the compassion and insight to facilitate meaningful discussions about tough topics. The expert counselors at Thriveworks can also help couples maintain their relationship even if they’re not actively experiencing problems. The important lessons learned in marriage counseling can endure throughout the lifespan of a relationship.
What Is It Like to Go to Couples Therapy?
People go to couples therapy for a variety of reasons. Happily married celebrities like Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have spoken out about their own reasons for making relationship counseling part of their routine. Couples therapy at Thriveworks in Novi, MI can help reinforce what’s already working in a relationship, and help nip problems in the bud by preemptively building effective communication strategies between intimate partners.
Is Marriage Therapy Effective?
The vast majority of couples who seek marriage counseling are satisfied with the results. That is because marriage therapy is typically very solution-focused. Licensed therapists look for practical ways to help couples resolve their relationship issues and reach their goals. At Thriveworks in Novi, MI, a licensed professional facilitates open dialogue between couples within a safe, judgement-free environment where everyone can feel heard. In this secure space, relationship therapy can examine the following topics:
- Communication
- Trust
- Displays of affection
- Emotion management
- Addiction or substance abuse issues
- Mental health conditions
- Sexual cycles
- Serious life changes like marriage, illness, and aging
- Intimacy issues
- Infidelity
What Can You Learn in Relationship Counseling?
In couples counseling, a therapist hopes that each partner will learn what they set out to learn when they begin therapy. For example, a partner may start therapy with the goal of reducing arguments at home. Through relationship counseling that person might learn her partner’s triggers and be able to adapt her language to communicate more effectively. In turn, her partner might become more aware of why certain words trigger distress, and find coping strategies.
People come to marriage therapy or premarital counseling at Thriveworks in Novi, MI with a wide variety of goals in mind, including the following:
- To feel more loved.
- To feel more appreciated.
- To model a healthier relationship for the kids.
- To feel like friends again.
- To find parental support.
- To reignite a spark.
- To reduce tension.
- To stop having the same argument.
- To be more intimate.
- To establish boundaries.
- To express needs and desires.
- To cope with empty nest syndrome.
A Thriveworks couples therapist will want to know what each partner would like to achieve in the therapy sessions, and adapt treatment around those goals. Therapists may use modalities like the Gottman method or emotionally focused therapy to accomplish these client objectives.
How to Find a Couples Therapist
People should bear in mind some basic criteria when they begin looking for a couples therapist. For example:
- The counselor should be fully licensed in Novi, Michigan. All Thriveworks mental health providers are fully licensed in Michigan, not to mention nationwide.
- The marriage therapist should have reasonable rates. Thriveworks mental health providers accept most major health insurance plans and offer affordable self-pay rates.
- The therapist should have experience working with couples similar to you. For example, Thriveworks providers have helped a diverse array of couples like LGBTQ, Christian, and interracial.
- The counselor should be able to meet you and your spouse in a way that’s comfortable and convenient. Licensed marriage and family therapy at Thriveworks in Novi, MI can take place in-person or online.
Reignite Your Relationship with Marriage Counseling at Thriveworks in Novi, MI
When you call the Thriveworks office in Novi, MI, our staff can quickly match you to a premium, fully licensed counselor who can start seeing you and your loved one as early as tomorrow. Most Thriveworks clients have an initial online therapy session or in-person therapy session within 24-48 hours of their call. As an added benefit, clients can access their provider by email or phone between sessions.
We look forward to helping you and your spouse reconnect. Call Thriveworks today for top-rated counseling.
