When it comes to marriage counseling, it's important to discuss the situation as logically as possible and, if necessary, involve an unbiased third party, such as a therapist. A therapist can provide an important skill set that will help guide the conversation and ultimately help you and your partner decide what to do in the future. Be honest with your partner about your belief in couples therapy as a way to improve your marriage. Explain in a respectful way that you want your relationship to change and grow, and treatment will help you achieve that goal. It's important to note that although individual therapy is an essential component of couples counseling, there is no evidence that individual treatment alone helps resolve marital problems.
After each session, it's important to summarize what happened and prepare for the future. Have each member of the couple share their ideas about what happened during the session and come up with something they can personally do before the next appointment to improve the relationship. Marriage or relationship counseling can provide a wealth of tools for both people in the relationship. Not every marriage counseling session will be dedicated solely to you, your partner, and your therapist. Marriage therapy can help couples learn to communicate more effectively, whether through the simple act of active listening or learning to speak without offending their partner.
The effectiveness of marriage counseling depends directly on the motivation levels of each couple. Marriage therapy is a great solution for moderating the difference between expectations and reality within a relationship. If you've been getting counseling for yourself, it's important to remember that couples therapy may be different than individual therapy. To learn more about counseling and marriage therapy, there are numerous podcasts and books with which to expand your knowledge.
