Couples Therapy

Couples therapy is usually focused on specific situations and is limited to a certain number of sessions. Very often, couples encounter physical and emotional violence, substance abuse, adultery, and problems in sexual life. The goal of couples counseling is to break dysfunctional habits by focusing on current issues, reducing couples’ distress, and enhancing their overall functioning. The overarching goal is to solve the conflict that initially brought the couple into therapy, communicate in a non-abusive way, set boundaries, and exist in a well-balanced tandem. A therapist joins the couple in the session and works with them to maintain the balance between the two individuals. Sometimes one of the partners feels reluctant to go to therapy while another one wants it more. However, couples therapy is most effective when both partners agree to participate and are open to change. The therapist works with the couple’s dynamic to assess, highlight, and intervene in the dysfunctional interaction between two people. However, it is imperative for the therapist not to take sides in the arguments as it may bring disbalance and further conflict within a couple. Furthermore, the therapist needs to possess good self-awareness in order not to impose their own inner issues on the couple and pay attention when they feel inclined to take sides. When couples come into therapy, the therapist cannot predict the exact outcome of therapy. Often couples who come to resolve conflicts can discover that they do not want to continue their relationship and may decide to separate. On the other hand, couples who are on the verge of divorce may discover their relationship from a new side and realize that their union has a new beginning. There are different types of couples therapy.

Solution-focused therapy works effectively when the couple has a specific issue they want to resolve. The approach is useful when the couple wants to accomplish short-term goals. The Gottman approach includes specific components of a healthy relationship that serve as a template for the interventions. The goal of Gottman therapy is to decrease verbal violence and any toxicity within the relationships, promote intimacy and increase empathy towards each other. Imago relationship therapy (IRT) teaches couples to identify childhood experiences that have impacted their adult relationships. Imago therapy helps the couple develop a thorough understanding of the reasons why they behave in certain ways in the relationship and how it affects their partner. Consequently, couples can learn how to identify certain triggers and work through their childhood traumas.