Couples Therapy CAN Help
What Does Couples Therapy Look Like?
Those of us who are married or in a serious relationship know that arguments can go to a deep place quickly. Couples often find themselves fighting about something deeper than what the argument itself is portraying.
Couples counseling helps to slow things down.
During a session, the therapist is not listening for content; but is listening for the layers below the content. Learning how to go to that level in your relationship can be priceless. Communicating more effectively is more than just a skill of talking. It is a skill of truly understanding your partner AND feeling heard by him/her on a level that matters.
The process of therapy helps couples experience their partner on an emotional level. "What is it like for you to hear your husband say he's been feeling lonely for years?" Or "I notice tears in your eyes. What's happening right now...what are you reacting to...?" Having someone neutral interrupt the argument or flow of negative energy and being encouraged to look inside yourself or participate as your partner looks inside him/herself can be a priceless gift.
Those of us who are married or in a serious relationship know that arguments can go to a deep place quickly. Couples often find themselves fighting about something deeper than what the argument itself is portraying.
Couples counseling helps to slow things down.
During a session, the therapist is not listening for content; but is listening for the layers below the content. Learning how to go to that level in your relationship can be priceless. Communicating more effectively is more than just a skill of talking. It is a skill of truly understanding your partner AND feeling heard by him/her on a level that matters.
The process of therapy helps couples experience their partner on an emotional level. "What is it like for you to hear your husband say he's been feeling lonely for years?" Or "I notice tears in your eyes. What's happening right now...what are you reacting to...?" Having someone neutral interrupt the argument or flow of negative energy and being encouraged to look inside yourself or participate as your partner looks inside him/herself can be a priceless gift.
What if we Fight too Much? Can Relationship Counseling Still Help?
Therapy is not about who is right or wrong, but more about how can we work together to get the relationship to a better place. Couples who experience disruptive verbally explosive fights are often encouraged not to talk about triggering issues at home, but are rather encouraged to work through them during the session. When couples allow their dynamic to be interrupted during a session, growth and understanding can occur. A couples therapist can often hear the deeper level and can work to help the couple see this and begin to hear it (click here to read about getting "un-stuck" as a couple). Sometimes once a week is not enough for couples at this level. If traditional couples counseling is not enough, it may be time to try an Intensive or Comprehensive Based Relationship Counseling.
How to Get The Relationship & Closeness You Crave With Couples Counseling
Feeling your partner finally get you and having conversations go in a new joining direction can be addicting. This is where couples get to build on the positive areas of the relationship. Sometimes this stage is about restoring old connections but most often it is helping the couple create something new or a newer cleaner version of themselves as a couple.
Related Blog Articles Written by our Ashburn, Virginia Team of Therapists
Click here to read an article by Gabrielle Anderson about the negative cycle in which many unsatisfied marriages get stuck.
Read an article written by Gabrielle Anderson that looks at satisfied marriages through the eyes of researchers and pioneers in the field.
Read a quick-read article by Gabrielle Anderson about the paradoxical compliments we often choose to marry.
Traditional couples counseling usually consists of weekly 50 or 75 or 90 minute sessions; however, couples do not need to be married to receive couples counseling. All couples both traditional and non-traditional are invited to participate. We have daytime, evening and tele-health (computer based) sessions available! Just let us know your preferences.
Read an article written by Gabrielle Anderson that looks at satisfied marriages through the eyes of researchers and pioneers in the field.
Read a quick-read article by Gabrielle Anderson about the paradoxical compliments we often choose to marry.
Traditional couples counseling usually consists of weekly 50 or 75 or 90 minute sessions; however, couples do not need to be married to receive couples counseling. All couples both traditional and non-traditional are invited to participate. We have daytime, evening and tele-health (computer based) sessions available! Just let us know your preferences.