When people hear the words ‘relationship counseling,’ they mostly conjure an image of a struggling couple going through a divorce or are trying to salvage what little is left of their relationship. While this is true for some people, not all couples who go through counseling are dysfunctional and on the verge of divorce.
Relationship counseling carries a stigma in society. Similar to having a mental illness, couples are looked down on for wanting to seek help from a relationship counselor. It’s just because of the success-oriented culture people live in.
Going to couples therapy is not a sign that you or your partner are inherently dysfunctional. People are bombarded in real life and on social media with “couple goals” and “power couple” imagery that can put a heavy strain on relationships.
There are benefits in relationship counseling that people should know of, especially if they are struggling with their partners. Here are few things relationship counseling can do which can make you think if counseling is worth it or not.
Relationship Counseling Helps Fix Conflicts
The main goal of relationship counseling and couples therapy is to fix any conflict that a couple is going through. Whether it is because of financial problems or if one person has a cheating habit. The goal of the counselor is to guide partners to find peace and compromise, as well as to ask forgiveness from each other.
Couples therapy also aims to find the root cause of the problem. Rather than just tackling its branches. Counseling can address hard subjects that couples can otherwise choose to avoid for their own comfort.
Relationship Counseling Encourages Communication
Plenty of relationship and marital issues can stem from miscommunication. Couples therapy can be the intervention that is needed to solve the problems in communication.
Couples who have a hard time communicating with each other can be caused by a lot of factors. Childhood upbringing, unhealed trauma, or a lack of social skills are just a few reasons why couples can have disagreements. Relationship counseling helps partners put their walls down for each other and clarify things that would otherwise be buried. It can be the perfect time for partners to tell each other what they really feel, express their positive and negative emotions, and be able to connect intimately.
Relationship Counseling Provides an Unbiased Views Towards the Relationship
Telling friends and families about relationship problems is fine for a short-term vent, but these people are obviously going to side with only one person in the relationship because they are close to them. Sometimes, this can cause further damage to the relationship, as parents, relatives, and friends can manipulate lovers into turning against one another.
A counselor, on the other hand, will keep themselves unbiased when dealing with both parties. Not only can a counselor understand both partners without any attached feelings towards them. This also allows couples to hear each other’s story without being clouded by their own and other’s prejudice.
Relationship Counseling Can Help Discover Underlying Mental Issues
Counselors are trained to pick up signs of any underlying mental health conditions and illnesses. While they are not allowed to diagnose patients, they can refer to a psychiatrist in case they have noticed certain signs or symptoms.
Relationship counseling can help detect otherwise glossed over mental illnesses. Cognitive and emotional problems may be the cause of some relationship issues, or the relationship itself is the cause of distress and trouble. Whether it is a cause or an effect, a counselor can identify these issues between partners and either help solve the issue or refer one or both partners to other professionals.
Relationship Counseling Promotes Growth Between Couples
Finally, relationship counseling helps couples grow, not only as better companions for each other but as better people in general. The way people treat each other is a reflection of how they treat themselves. If a person’s life revolves around negativity, anger, and depression, then they will project those emotions onto those they love. Couples therapy aims to make couples better by examining each party’s flaws and working on a compromise that can make both people happy.
A relationship is not only about the love, respect, and trust partners give to one another, but it’s the same love, respect, and trust an individual gives to himself. If someone is weighed down by burdens, past mistakes, and self-esteem issues, they will have a tougher time coping and being with someone else. That is why relationship counseling is so important. Not only will it teach you how to love someone, but it can also teach you how to love yourself.
