Relationships are hard work. Both parties have to continue to give the relationship all they have in other for it to thrive. If one person is on board, and the other really isn’t, there is no way the relationship would survive. A good relationship can do wonders for our mental health, which is why it is so very important. Couple therapy can help save a relationship, and that explains why it is very popular today.
Life is so busy with the endless work, commuting, childcare, and all the other responsibilities we have as adults. Sometimes, we forget to nurture our relationships. If your relationship is struggling, some couples therapy may be all it needs to bring the spark back to life. Here are 4 things you need to know before you go for couple therapy.
Make sure the Therapist is qualified
Before starting the therapy sessions, you should ensure the therapist is qualified to provide the services. The last thing you would want is having to waste your time with a half-baked counselor/therapist. Apart from the fact that you would both be wasting your time with an unqualified therapist, you won’t want to take on the wrong advice. So it is best to ensure the Therapist is qualified before you sign up for any sessions.
Set money aside
I am all about budgeting this year, so this tip shouldn’t surprise my regular readers. Once you are sure of the qualifications of the Therapist, you need to set some money aside for your sessions. You both need to decide on how much you are willing to spend on the counseling, and stick to your budget. It makes sense to set aside a realistic amount to cover the costs of the sessions, so you don’t end using a form of credit to pay up. Having a budget for your couple counseling that allows some room for flexibility is the way to go.
Have an initial session
You both need to see if you like your Therapist’s way of counseling. Having an initial session to check this is recommended. Counseling is a very personal experience. You would be answering very personal questions, so you need to like your therapist and be very comfortable. If not, it would be a waste of time and money. You both also need to know the Therapist’s views on marriages and relationships, and ensure it sits well with both parties.
Make sure you are both willing
This takes us back to the first thing I mentioned on here. You both need to be willing to put in the work for any relationship or marriage to work. The same goes for couple counselling. Both parties need to be willing to go for couple counselling and do all it takes to better the relationship. If one is on board and the other isn’t, it would be a waste of time. Communication is very important, and you need to communicate properly even more when you are undergoing couple counseling. Without communication, the therapy would be dead before it even starts.
What are your thoughts on this? Please share them in the comments section below. Thanks for stopping by.
*Collaborative post.
I’ve never been to couples therapy but I think if we needed to go we would….because I think relationships are definitely hard work!
Yes it is a lot of work but so worth it.
Never been but I bet it is worth a try for the people who need to go as do need to give it ago.
Yes it is.
My husband wouldn’t entertain counselling. He’s behind the times when it comes to things like that 😞 Luckily we don’t need it
I know many who shy away from counselling too! I think it is worth having if needed. Good you guys don’t need it.
Definitely something to think about. Also agree you would have to like your therapist to feel comfortable chatting with them about person things.
Yes. Thanks Susanna.
I think it is a good idea if things are not going good for a couple. Especially if you both are willing to open up and talk to someone.
Yes it is a great idea. Thanks Claire.
I have never been to couple counselling. I think it can be useful and your post is full of sensible advice for those who could benefit from it.
Yes it is very useful. Thanks Anne.
I love the idea of having an initial session to judge if the therapist is the right fit. Great tips here!
Thanks Nickolai.
I have never had couples therapy but if there were any issues I would consider it
Oh good. Thanks for reading.