Making the choice to go to couples counseling can feel like a very big step. It involves admitting that things are not perfect in your partnership, which is often tough to do and scary to admit. And if you are not particularly familiar with what therapy is all about, it can feel mysterious and confusing, not to mention it can involve considerable effort — finding an appropriate provider, figuring out insurance and other financial aspects of the commitment, coming up with a time to fit into everyone’s schedule. Often, the idea of seeing a marriage or couples therapist sits on the back burner, with one or both parties thinking that it may be a good idea, but also feeling unsure of how to proceed — and of whether their specific problems can really be helped.

Couples therapy could help couples through the above steps and more. According to Psychology Today, for couples therapy to work, both individuals must be committed to improving their relationship, while looking inwardly at their own individual strengths and weaknesses. Knowing their traits and habits that make their partner tick could have a positive effect on making personal and relationship changes. Couples therapy isn’t meant for one partner to unload anger, resentment and other damaging behaviors toward his or her partner. It’s about unlocking solutions based on love, dedication and more.
A couples therapist looks at the ins and out of the couple’s relationship and gives the couple insight into their shared strengths and weaknesses, as well as their individual ones. The couples therapist acts as a neutral mediator and gives advice to both partners. He or she may promote more two-way communication, create more positive ways of interacting and thinking, and different ways the couple can show their love and support for each other. all while in couples counseling.