Addressing Some Routinely Asked Marriage Counseling Questions

It is no secret that a long-term relationship can go through periods where it may be a difficult and trying obligation. However, it is important to understand that relationship counseling services can prove instrumental in helping you overcome these challenges. For those that are in committed marriages, these services can be particularly valuable in helping avoid divorce proceedings, but you might benefit from learning more about the ways these services can help your marriage as well as what to expect.

How Can Counseling Help Save Your Marriage?

Over the course of time, it can be easy for slights, fights, and other instances of disrespect to occur between partners. In other instances, cheating or simply growing apart may cause an emotional chasm to form. These instances can compromise the strength of your marriage by inhibiting healthy and productive communication.

When you attend counseling sessions, you and your partner will learn the steps and techniques to talk through these issues and problems. By learning to communicate your feelings while remaining rational, you may find that many of the problems with your relationship are addressed.

What Will Your Relationship Counseling Sessions Be Like?

During the counseling sessions, you and your spouse will meet with the therapist both individually and a couple. In the individual sessions, you and your therapist will discuss your feelings towards the relationship. This will include both the way that you feel about your spouse and learning to see matters from your spouse's perspective. These individual sessions are essential for providing a setting where you can speak candidly about your relationship without fearing that you will hurt your partner's feelings.

When you and your spouse meet with the counselor together, the two of you will attempt to work through some of the underlying issues that are troubling your marriage while the counselor supervises. By having an independent party help guide these discussions, it can be easier for them to be productive, which can help lead to emotional breakthroughs.  

How Many Sessions Are Needed To Address Your Marriage's Problems?

You will likely want to have your marriage repaired as quickly as possible. However, it is important to realize that you and your spouse will likely need numerous sessions. There is no way to know the exact number, as it will depend on the unique personalities that are involved as well as the underlying problems with the relationship. To help reduce the time needed to mend your relationship, there will be home-based exercises that your counselor provides, and you must follow these precisely. By incorporating the lessons you learn into your daily interactions with your partner and following the home-based exercises, you might help limit the number of sessions that may be needed.

For more information, contact a counselor like Sharon O'Connell, MA.