Have you heard the encouraging news? The divorce rate has been steadily declining from 4.0 to 2.5 since 2000 (forbes.com). While the frightening ‘50% of marriages end in divorce’ statistic still lingers, this remarkable improvement is a reason to celebrate. It begs the question: Could relationship counseling be the key to this positive shift? With the rise in telehealth services, individuals worldwide are proactively seeking support to resolve their challenges sooner rather than later. So, in this article, we’ll explore how mental health professionals can serve as a lifeline to your marriage.
How relationship counseling can save your marriage: 5 valuable benefits
1. Receive impartial advice
One of the most valuable benefits of relationship counseling is receiving an outsider’s perspective. A skilled therapist will listen to you and your partner and offer unbiased, impartial advice and feedback. Indeed, hearing about the problems you’re experiencing individually and collectively can provide new insights and perspectives in resolving conflict and improving communication. You and your partner will learn how to get the most out of couples therapy to strengthen your bond as a team.
2. Air your grievances within a secure environment
When conflict is present, and the problems seem impossible to unravel, it’s natural to butt heads even further. As a result, both parties may feel reluctant or scared to share their feelings openly and honestly. That’s where therapy comes in and paves the way for a secure environment. One of the main reasons people are drawn to therapy is the ability to air their pain in a safe environment under the supervision of an unbiased party. Through the therapist’s guidance, boundaries are set, and there is support for both you and your partner as you navigate facing the feelings, memories, and problems necessary to move forward.
3. Heal past trauma
Indian philosopher, Jiddu Kirshnamurti, famously said “Relationships are the mirrors in which you see yourself as you are”. This quote suggests that our interactions and connections with others, provide a reflection of our own behaviors, attitudes, and emotions. In the context of therapy, by observing how we engage with our partner and how they respond to us, we can gain valuable insights into our own personality, emotions, areas for personal development, and heal individually and collectively.
4. Learn strategies and coping mechanisms
Every relationship encounters its share of challenges, and perfection should never be the goal. During these difficult times, your therapist will teach you coping mechanisms and relationship counseling techniques to manage stress, anger, sadness, or other disruptive emotions impeding your ability to heal. These strategies will also remove roadblocks, improve communication, and increase honesty. But these skills only go so far. You and your partner must practice them within your relationship and at home to find strength in being rooted together as a unit.
5. Understand one another on a deeper level
Through the guidance of a licensed professional therapist, you and your partner will start to resolve your differences and understand one another more profoundly than before. You’ll understand why they reacted the way they did, what their triggers are, how their conditioning affects their present day, and how you can assist them in their healing, including your own. It’s a beautiful gift when you start to see your relationship as an interconnected whole – a mix between your feelings and your partners.
Relationship counseling offers invaluable benefits that can save and strengthen marriages. By receiving the tools and insights needed to build a resilient and fulfilling partnership, you’ll learn how to embark on a journey toward self-discovery and shared growth. Therefore, consider these advantages and explore our couples counseling services to begin the first step today.
