In the new year, many couples are inspired to grow and shift their relationship. Couples may pursue change through reading books, going on couples retreats, or simply committing to spending more quality time together.
Many couples also take the opportunity to start couples therapy.
One common question I often hear is: “what factors can help increase the effectiveness of couples therapy?”
In this Live About article, I and other relationship specialists share how we can tell if therapy will help (or be ineffective) for couples.
Here is a snippet of my two cents:
How can you tell if the therapy will be helpful to the couple?
When the couple understands that things might be extra bumpy as they begin to change behavioral and communication patterns before it starts to get better, and they’re willing to be patient and persistent.
And, when couples are committed to work as a team instead of seeing each other as the enemy. Couples must also be open-minded, self-reflective, and work on individual issues that impact the relationship.
How can you tell if the therapy will probably not help the couple?
When partners insist on keeping secrets from each other or only one partner is willing and ready to work. The other partner is often “dragged” into therapy or is there to appease the other partner.
Also, when the couple resists putting what they learn into practice, and expect that a session a week will fix all of their problems or when the couple sets unrealistic expectations and quit therapy too early.
Read the full article here. It’s a from a little ways back, but I’m working to catch up on blog posts! 🙂
