Good news for those who believe that therapy can improve their relationships, but can’t convince a partner to accompany them to the therapist. A five year study has shown that the improvement in relationships resulting from therapy is approximately the same for couples in which only one partner attends counseling sessions. It is suggested that a partner who feels more comfortable expressing feelings (usually the woman) can attend counseling sessions and then teach new behavior skills to the other partner.Read the entire article here: Couples Therapy, Alone?
Don’t Wait for an Impending Divorce Date for Couples Counseling
Last-ditch marital counseling seldom has the desired affect. Once the “d” word is out there, it is difficult to overcome. However, if this is the position in which you find yourself, you can improve the odds by 1) telling your spouse you don’t want a divorce and that you want to work on the marriage, 2) postpone your court date, 3) both be willing to examine yourself and to three things that make it difficult for your spouse to love you, 4) write down five reasons you think your marriage can survive, and 5) seek therapy on your own and then choose another couples counselor to see with your spouse.Read the entire article here: Don’t Wait for an Impending Divorce Date for Couples Counseling
Survey: Marital Therapy May Increase Sex
A survey of counseling professionals has indicated that the number one reason for marital discord is not feeling valued by one’s partner. While other problems highlighted by the survey come as no surprise (communications problems, disagreements about finances, and the couples’ sex life), the survey also indicated that preoccupation with sports can cause relationship problems. However, for couples with problems in one or more of those other areas, sports might be simply a way to avoid dealing with the more important issues affecting a marriage. The good news? If a couple seeks counseling, which can help reopen clogged communications lines and reinforce the positive aspects of a relationship, a couple’s sex life will probably reflect that change. Read the entire article here: Survey: Marital Therapy May Increase Sex
Move-in Before Marriage No Longer Predicts Divorce
Forty years ago, couples who lived together before they got married had a higher incidence of divorce. Because the practice has become so widespread, with 60% of couples living together before the wedding, living together has ceased to be a predictor of divorce – if the couple is engaged when they move in together. If no commitment was made, the likelihood of a long-term relationship (15 years or more) decreased sharply. However, a number of factors play into that statistic, including the couples’ family histories, attitudes toward commitment, and level of education. Not surprisingly, the attitudes and expectations of each couple have a profound impact on the relationship.Read the entire article here: Move-in Before Marriage No Longer Predicts Divorce
Couples Therapy
Couples or marriage therapy encompasses working with a therapist to explore any issues, no matter what they are, that affect a couple's relationship. This can include events from the past (that occurred in the relationship or in the life of either person) or current challenges (such as parenting, relationship dynamics, lack of communication, affairs, money issues, interactions with extended family, etc.)