Every couple has conflicts in their relationship. Sometimes these conflicts can become huge problems in any relationship, and some couples do not know how to deal with the issues at hand. A therapist can listen to both views of the conflict and help the couple resolve the issues that are interfering with their everyday life. Main benefits of couples therapy include being able to talk about conflicts comfortably. Each person in the relationship talks to the therapist and gets to fully express their feelings on each and every problem that arises in the relationship. This is done in a supportive, comfortable environment so that feelings can be expressed without any type of arguing.
Couples therapy is an alternative to divorce. There is currently a very high divorce rate that could be lowered by simply talking with a couples therapist and learning skills to use later on in life and eliminate conflicts before they become a larger problem . The goal of couples therapy is to introduce couples to new ways to work out their conflicts together, and develop a supportive, loving relationship with their partner. Working through disagreements in a safe environment helps each partner express themselves without having to worry about how the other partner will react. The couple discusses issues and gets ideas from the therapist on how to work through the conflict without any unnecessary arguing or yelling. At home tempers flare, voices are raised, and discussions become out of control. Minor conflicts easily turn into huge problems. This is all unnecessary and just ends up adding more issues to the conflicts the couple is trying to resolve in the first place. If every couple would attend sessions with a couples therapist it would decrease the current divorce rate and many couples would learn how to talk and work out a solution to their problems instead of arguing about every little issue that arises. This would help every relationship grow into a more trusting bond instead of leading down that path towards another unnecessary divorce.
Some people refuse to go to therapy just because of the way they feel they look to the rest of society. In reality, it gives couples a place to go where they can talk about their conflicts in a safe environment, and get an opinion from another person. Talking about conflicts helps the couple develop a way to resolve issues in a way that each person can agree to. The biggest benefit of couples therapy is that after the issues are discussed, each person feels they have been fully heard and understood. A huge part of many conflicts in a relationship involves someone feeling like they have not been completely understood or heard.
About The Author
Irina Firstein is a NYC marriage counselor based out of New York City.
