Sharing your life with your romantic partner can feel like the most wonderful thing in the world. The connection between you and your significant other can be quite unlike anything else.
Relationships can be incredible, but they certainly aren’t always easy. Sometimes in our relationships, we lose sight of how to provide support to our partners or communicate effectively. This is completely understandable — All relationships have their highs and lows. Getting to know someone on a deeper level can bring you closer together and make navigating certain situations a little more complicated.
There’s no guidebook on how to be the best partner, and we all make mistakes. We won’t always be the perfect partner, and that’s okay. The important thing is understanding that being in a relationship means going through good times and bad times together. But figuring out what that means on your own can be daunting.
If you and your partner are feeling like you might need some support, we have a solution for you: working with a relationship counselor or therapist. At Thriveworks in St. Charles, MO, mental health professionals can work with you to resolve conflict and help you feel happier and more confident in your relationship. Call our office today to set up your first appointment.
Who Can Benefit From Couples Counseling?
There’s a common misconception that couples or marriage counseling is only for long-term couples with serious relationship difficulties. While counseling is an option for couples in those kinds of situations, it can also be beneficial in so many other cases. There’s no particular amount of time you need to be in a relationship to consider counseling. Therapists and counselors help clients that are dating, engaged, or married.
No matter what stage of your relationship is at, if you feel there’s a problem, many counselors recommend coming in sooner rather than later to address it. Going to therapy or counseling sessions does not mean admitting defeat. Clients who are proactive about getting help can see how it improves their relationships and prevents issues from growing into something much larger and more difficult to manage.
Some common issues that bring couples into therapy include:
- Jealousy
- Codependency
- Parenting issues or disagreements
- Dissatisfied sex life
- Financial tension
- Opposing life goals
- Difficulty communicating
- Breakdown in trust
- Feeling distant
You may find that you or your partner is more receptive to the idea of seeking help from a mental health professional. This is quite normal for couples considering working with a professional. While you shouldn’t manipulate or force yourself or your partner into doing anything either of you doesn’t want to do, we recommend having an open discussion about your hesitations. Acknowledging that you are in your relationship and want to work on it together can also go a long way.
Counselors and therapists from Thriveworks Counseling in St. Charles, MO, can help you manage issues in your relationship and deepen the bond you have with your partner. Call our office today to get started.
How Relationship Therapy or Counseling Sessions Can Help
Once you decide to seek help, your therapist or counselor will likely start by taking some time to get to know you and your partner and understand the issues you’re facing. Having this foundation will allow you to start the main work of couples therapy or counseling, which includes:
- Identifying your specific issues
- Developing and practicing changes to address those issues
- Creating clear treatment objectives
Relationship therapists and counselors can conduct this work through different approaches, such as the Gottman Method, imago relationship therapy (IRT), or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Depending on the issues you identify, your provider might use tactics from multiple therapeutic approaches to best address your needs.
Though the tactics may differ slightly, each of these approaches emphasizes building relationship skills such as:
- Reflective listening
- Articulating your feelings
- Open and empathetic communication
- Decreasing emotional avoidance
- Promoting a relationship’s strengths
Do you think working with a professional could help you work through an issue with your partner? Whatever your time in therapy or counseling looks like, the mental health professionals from Thriveworks Counseling in St. Charles, MO, will support you with care and compassion.
Start Relationship Counseling At Thriveworks in St. Charles, MO
Working with a licensed marriage and family therapist at Thriveworks Counseling in St. Charles, MO, can help you gain new insights into your relationship and empower you to live your best lives together.
We know that finding the time for mental health care can seem challenging, and we want to help you access the care you’re looking for. We offer online appointments over video chat or phone calls as well as evening and weekend sessions. You might be able to start pretty quickly –– many new couples can have their first session within 24-48 hours.
If you want to start working with a relationship counselor or therapist, call our office at Thriveworks Counseling in St. Charles, MO, today. One of our scheduling specialists will help you set up an appointment and answer any questions. We can’t wait to hear from you.
