Posted by: Dr. Justin D'Arienzo, Psy.D., ABPP

How Couples Counseling Can Be Beneficial

No matter what issues you face — and even if things are going fine — couples counseling can improve your relationship and help you find more joy in life with your partner. Whether it’s fighting, lack of trust, money or child-rearing issues, a counselor can provide both of you much needed advice and information and help you to gain a better understanding of your situation. Couples who engage in counseling together can find ways to overcome their issues, regardless of the outcome.

Unique Circumstances

Most couples and families will face some difficulties, and in fact, it would be rare if they didn’t. But no couple, family or relationship is the same and in turn, the problems they face are unique. While fights over money, jealousy, insecurity, child-raising issues, emotional support and infidelity are common problems that couples face, each will have it’s own unique circumstances. Through a counselor, you can help to identify the conditions and issues that are leading to your troubles.

Difficulties with Childcare

Childcare issues can often create division between couples and in families. Here, counseling can be especially useful. Children with learning difficulties and special needs can be especially stressful to some families. Counselors are experts at exploring family problems and explaining to couples how they can address their issues. Plus, counseling can also help parents improve their communication with their children. In some cases, couples can bring what they learn in counseling back to their family, where other children and family-members can also benefit from the knowledge and advice.

For All Relationship Stages

Couples counseling isn’t just for people who are married. Counseling can be beneficial for nearly any stage of a relationship. People who are considering getting married can benefit from an outside perspective of their relationship, which can help spot troubles and issues early and give the couples the time and preparation to deal with them. This can be an especially useful option for couples who family live far away and aren’t able to give them the advice they need.

Successful Resolutions

Counseling will help you come to a success resolutions of your relationship issues. In some cases, that may even include separation or divorce. The goal of counseling is not to mend a relationship that can’t be fixed and in some cases, counseling will help both parties realize that the relationship can’t work. An amicable divorce is a better result than a bitter one and through counseling, couples can often take this difficult step with a positive outlook.

A Better Understand of Each Other

Regardless of the outcome, couples counseling can help foster a better understanding between partners. They will leave counseling with more knowledge about how their partner feels, what they think and why they act as they do. While not all arguments can easily resolved, couples who have undertaken counseling can go through them knowing that the other cares for them. This alone can often help them open up more to each other and change their behaviors to match.