Effective Marriage & Couples Counseling: Rebuilding Stronger Relationships
Discover how professional marriage & couples counseling can transform your relationship, address common challenges, and build a stronger foundation for your future together. Learn about effective techniques, including the Gottman Method, and how our experienced therapists can help you navigate through various relationship issues.
- I don’t feel connected to my partner or spouse.
- My partner misunderstands me.
- He/she undervalues my role in our relationship.
- My spouse and I are always fighting about the same things over and over again.
- My partner had an affair and I need help coping with the fallout.
- It feels like we aren’t on the same page and they don’t care about my feelings anymore.
Having problems in a relationship is normal. If you aren’t arguing with each other at all you might actually be really disconnected. Couples who have successful relationships have to learn to navigate marriage issues. They know how to put problems in perspective. They understand that the way to work out issues is by talking openly and honestly with their partner instead of fighting, insulting, withdrawing or sulking.
Relationship problems are common. In fact, every couple has them. It’s how they are handled that makes all the difference in the success of a relationship.
Common Relationship Challenges and Their Causes
Over the course of a relationship, each partner changes and grows. Oftentimes when this happens the relationship gets off balance. Then, it takes some time and effort to restore the balance in a relationship. A relationship or marriage can present many challenges that you never had to think about as a single person.
Sometimes, couples have not had the best role models for relationships. So, they just do what they had learned. Even if you had great models, relationships can still be challenging. This can happen when both partners come in with different expectations of what a marriage should look like.
One of the most common challenges couples face is communication issues. Many couples struggle to express their needs, feelings, and concerns effectively, leading to misunderstandings and conflicts. Poor communication can exacerbate other problems and create a cycle of frustration and disconnection.
Some causes of relationship conflict include:
- Money
- Parenting
- In-laws
- Sex or intimacy issues
- Different ideas of power in the relationship.
Relationship conflicts usually stem from couples having different values that they did not explain to their partner or the partner has not accepted. Many couples begin a relationship or marriage with an idea of how things should go. Then these ideas become unspoken expectations that cause conflict in a relationship.
Building a True Partnership: The Foundation of a Healthy Relationship
Relationship Challenges Are Common in Blended Families
Exploring Affair Recovery, Together, in Infidelity Counseling
Couples Counseling Can Help Get You Back on Track
With the help of marriage counseling, you can learn tools to help you and your spouse problem-solve more successfully, communicate better and resolve conflicts without fighting. Marriage counseling can improve your relationship and your ability to handle problems together. With time, you can experience relief and hope, improved sexual intimacy, and see happiness return to your marriage.
Improved communication helps solve almost any problem. You can learn to listen to what your partner is saying and the underlying emotional needs that they are trying to express. When partners feel heard and understood, they problem-solve in their relationship.
The Gottman Method: A Research-Based Approach to Couples Counseling
Our therapists use the research-based Gottman Method Couples Counseling to help you build your best relationship. The Gottman Method gives you relationship tools that will benefit your relationship for years to come. This approach is based on over four decades of research and has been shown to significantly improve relationship satisfaction and stability. The method focuses on nine components of healthy relationships, including building love maps, sharing fondness and admiration, and managing conflict constructively.
As long as both you and your spouse come to marriage counseling and are willing to consider change, there is hope for your relationship. You and your partner can strengthen your relationship by agreeing to try to work through your issues in a purposeful and guided way. You may notice that a hopeless marriage begins to feel hopeful again after therapy.
It is not unusual for couples to have problems. Then, after they go to therapy, they say that their marriage is more amazing and stronger than it ever was before. The best thing you can do for your relationship is to get help before the problems become too big to fix. With effort, you can learn new tools to have a wonderful marriage.
What to Expect in Couples Counseling
When you begin couples counseling, your therapist will typically start by assessing your relationship’s strengths and areas for improvement. You can expect to discuss your relationship history, current challenges, and goals for therapy. Sessions often involve learning and practicing new communication skills, exploring underlying issues, and developing strategies to address specific problems. Your therapist will provide a safe, non-judgmental space for both partners to express themselves and work towards mutual understanding and growth.
Online Couples Counseling in the State of California
Common Questions Before Attending Couples Counseling:
Couples Therapy vs. Couples Counseling: Is There a Difference?
Many people wonder about the difference between couples therapy and couples counseling. In practice, these terms are often used interchangeably. Both involve working with a trained professional to improve your relationship. However, some practitioners make a subtle distinction: couples therapy may delve deeper into underlying psychological issues and past experiences, while couples counseling might focus more on current problems and practical solutions. At The Relationship Therapy Center, we tailor our approach to meet your specific needs, regardless of whether you call it therapy or counseling.
What if we aren’t married yet? Is couples counseling still helpful?
That’s great. Regardless of your relationship status, couples counseling can help solve problems in your relationship before you get married. Therapy can help you build a strong foundation for a future marriage. You and your partner can share expectations regarding your relationship, and improve your communication skills. It’s never too early to seek couples counseling. Click here if you would like to read more about premarital counseling.
I’m skeptical about my partner’s ability make a change…
When both people attend therapy, there is hope for your relationship. Marriage counseling gives you both the opportunity to speak, be heard, and with our help, be understood. Our therapists don’t take sides. Although, we can’t promise your partner will change, but if they attend counseling sessions, then there’s hope. If your partner or spouse is truly ready to learn and willing to improve your relationship, then change will occur. And, don’t forget: relationships improve when one person begins to do what’s healthy, regardless of what the other party is doing.
But if you decide that your relationship is just no longer working and you decide to divorce, we can help you navigate a peaceful divorce.
Is counseling going to be expensive?
Marriage counseling is time-consuming and it is definitely an investment in your future. But, I invite you to think of it this way: Therapy is usually much less expensive than divorce. And that’s not counting the emotional expense. We see couples for anywhere between 6-20+ sessions. Your therapist will help you decide the best plan and how many sessions you need to form a healthy relationship. If you are wondering if the investment is worth it, the definitive answer is YES! Investing in your relationship will pay off for years to come.
Can my partner and I do a combination of in-person and online couples therapy?
Yes, as long as both partners are physically located in the state of California. We want to accommodate your needs and unique schedules. So, if you’re unable to meet with a therapist in person from time-to-time, then consider meeting with them online. This allows you to keep working on your relationship, even if you can’t both make it to therapy. This is especially helpful for couples who want traditional in-person couples counseling, but have a job requires one or both of them to travel.
Is talking about our relationship problems during counseling going to cause more pain?
No. Think of it like this, not discussing the issues in your relationship is like having an infected wound that you put a band-aid on. You think you have treated it, but the infection is still there. The foundation for an intimate relationship is based on being listened to and having your feelings valued and respected. Talking through issues, venting, and airing the dirty laundry is a healthy thing to do. Even if it seems counter-intuitive or scary at first. What we do is teach you to do things differently so that you walk home with tools because we use a proven couples therapy.
Some causes of conflict include money, parenting, in-laws, sex and different ideas of power in the relationship. This usually stems from value differences that have not been explained or are not accepted. Many couples walk into marriage with an idea of how things should go and these become unspoken expectations that cause conflict.
Begin Couples Counseling in the Sacramento Area:
If you are ready to learn how to deal with the problems in your relationship, the therapists at The Relationship Therapy Center in Fair Oaks, CA and Roseville, CA can help! Our therapists are ready to support you and your partner in your journey towards creating a healthy and happy relationship. To begin marriage counseling in Roseville, CA area, or marriage counseling in Fair Oaks, please follow these three simple steps:
- Contact our counseling office to get more information about couples counseling and to schedule a free consultation.
- Make an appointment with one of our Gottman Method trained therapists.
- Find support and healing in your relationship!
Other Services offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:
In addition to couples counseling, Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples counseling services include: Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, couples therapy retreats, and premarital counseling. Our individual therapy services include, anxiety treatment, trauma therapy, teen therapy, therapy for children, codependency counseling, depression treatment, and individual relationship counseling. We also offer online counseling to California residents. Please contact our office to learn more about the many ways we can help you and your loved ones.
Reach out to start your healing journey today