4 Reasons Why Couples Seek Relationship Counseling
You find yourself feeling frustrated by how your day-to-day events go with your partner. You don’t feel the same way you used to about your relationship, and that makes you sad. You love and care about them but you know something doesn’t feel the same. Some couples can trace it back to a specific event and others don’t know how they got to this point. Raising children, not having the time together they need, past mistakes, and hurt that has not been healed all contribute to why couples seek marriage counseling.
If you are wondering if your relationship should even warrant relationship counseling, it does. How do I know that? Because any couple that is entertaining the idea of going to therapy together can benefit from this immensely. What I desperately wish couples would understand is that relationship counseling can be preventative or provide maintenance to keep your relationship healthy and strong. It’s like going to the doctor for a yearly physical to make sure everything is ok, relationship counseling can provide benefits before problems arise.
Why do couples go to relationship counseling?
Every couple has a unique set of circumstances and needs. There are different situations and issues that arise that push a couple to go to relationship counseling. These are the central themes that bring a couple to counseling.
They want a good relationship
Many couples come to therapy simply because they want to have a good relationship. They may have a past history of being in unhealthy relationships or realize they don’t have the skills to have the type of relationship they want. The couples I work with often times had parents who didn’t have the type of relationship they want to have with their partner. The truth is the best way to develop a good relationship is to go to therapy together. With the help of a professional that is trained to specifically have healthy relationships, you will be in the best position to deepen your connection.
2. They want to feel different about their partner
Something may have happened in your relationship, and you may no longer feel the same way about your partner that you used to. You notice the spark is missing. You don’t feel like they understand you. Frustration is starting to build and you hate that you feel this way. You are committed to your relationship, and you know you need to work on it. The good news is you can feel differently about your partner. You can work through whatever it is that is causing problems in your relationship. A couples therapist can provide an outside perspective and offer suggestions to strengthen your relationship.
3. They’ve experienced trauma and it’s impacted the relationship
Most couples don’t classify what they went through as traumatic. However, it impacts the brain in a traumatic way. Whether it’s having the loss of a child, miscarriage, infertility, infidelity, etc, this all puts stress on the relationship. You may have noticed yourself disconnecting from your partner and isolating yourself. You may have also lost trust in your partner making it so the relationship is not the safe place it once was. No matter how big or small the trauma is, couples therapy can help you work through it and create a better relationship. As long as you are both completely committed, we can work through it together.
4. They have a dissatisfied sex life
There are many reasons why couples don’t have the kind of sex life they want. Being physically intimate is a vulnerable position to be in. It can feel risky to do especially when there has been a past history of sexual trauma affecting one or both partners. It can take time and patience to work through. Relationship therapy is a safe place to talk about the expectations that you have as a couple. It may feel awkward to address but having the help of a therapist can help you understand unspoken expectations and needs you might have in this area.
Marriage counseling can help you feel connected
Relationship counseling may make the biggest difference in your relationship. It will allow you to develop skills, have hard conversations, and connect to your partner in ways you’ve never been able to before. It may seem scary to share the intimate details of your life with a stranger. It also may not seem necessary because you’re not headed to divorce. However, this is the best time to go to counseling. It can prevent your relationship from getting into a place that you don’t want it to go.
Start working with a couples therapist in Utah
You can have a better relationship with your partner. You can feel more connected and leave conversations feeling understood. Relationship counseling can help. This Utah Counseling Center has a couples therapist specializing in relationship counseling. To begin therapy follow the steps below:
Meet with a marriage and family therapist
Begin working on your relationship
Online Couples Therapy in Utah
It’s hard to make time out of your busy schedule to go to a therapy appointment. There’s time spent in the car and cursing at all the other Utah drivers for the decisions they make on the road…oh is that just me? Anyway, regardless I want to save you time and offer convenience which is why I offer online therapy in Utah. This allows you the same effect as an in-person therapy session without having to get out of your sweats.
Online counseling allows me to work with you wherever you are in Utah. I work with clients in Provo, Salt Lake City, Logan, Cedar City, St. George, and Heber City. Reach out for a free 15-minute phone consultation to see how I can help.
Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy
Relationship counseling isn’t the only counseling service offered by this Utah Counseling Practice. Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy include EMDR therapy, therapy for men, ADHD treatment, depression therapy, anxiety therapy, LDS marriage counseling, and premarital counseling in Utah. Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation today to see how I can help.
About the Author
Marcus Hunt is a marriage and family therapist at Marcus Hunt Therapy in Utah. He has a bachelor's degree from Utah Valley University in behavioral science. Marcus also holds a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. He enjoys working with couples who are committed to each other and want to have a healthy relationship. Marcus recognizes that your relationship with your significant other is your most important relationship and being able to work on it can make a difference in your overall happiness. Marcus enjoys teaching couples communication skills that can enrich their relationship. When Marcus isn’t doing therapy, he enjoys watching 80’s sci-fi and making his wife a good meal.