Types Of Couple Counseling Techniques For Improved Communication And Mental Health

Is there free couples therapy?

One way you can get free couples therapy is through community centers or universities that offer counseling services. Some established therapy offices have interns, who are relatively new to the field and therefore offer services for free or at low cost. Free or low-cost counseling is available to people who have certain types of insurance or are within a specific income bracket. Some organizations offer vouchers for therapy, including couples and marital therapy. Another route is to see if you can get therapy through your religious community if you attend a church or another religious institution. Many churches offer counseling services, including free couples counseling or marriage counseling. While it isn't free, online therapy is another affordable option for those who find it hard to pay for traditional in-person counseling or who don't have insurance covering a significant portion of counseling costs.

Is online marriage counseling effective for relationships and mental health?

Online marriage counseling can help couples overcome relationship difficulties. Often, if someone chooses online marriage counseling, they prefer it because of its flexible nature. You don't have to commute, making it excellent for people with busy schedules or children or those with mental or physical health issues that make leaving home or driving difficult. Additionally, many therapists who offer online therapy don’t have the long waitlists that traditional in-person therapists sometimes have.

Can couples therapy make things worse?

Marriage and family therapists who are not adept at working with your concerns may do more harm than good. When you seek counseling services, it's important to remember that not all couples’ therapists are the same. A couples counselor should have extensive training and be fully licensed and experienced in dealing with challenges in adult relationships. Always check a provider's licensure, and if you ever feel that couples therapy isn't helpful or is making things worse, know that you have every right to switch providers. Sometimes, a therapist won't be a good fit, and that's okay. While couples therapy can be particularly difficult at first, it should get easier with time.

The importance of open communication in couples therapy

In marriage counseling couples therapy or any other form of care, you and your therapist should have open communication about the therapeutic process. Often, in couples therapy, you, your partner, and your couples therapist will discuss goals you would like to meet in or outside counseling. This is a way to check on your progress and make sure that things are going smoothly. If you and your partner are not committed to open communication and putting in the work, the therapeutic process may not be helpful.

How much does online marriage counseling cost?

Online marriage counseling ranges from roughly $65 a week to $90 a week. In-person counseling can cost up to around $200 per session, making online therapy a more affordable option for many, depending on what providers are available. At ReGain, counseling prices start at $65 a week. Something to note about the therapists at ReGain is that you can be assured that they're all licensed providers who are highly skilled and capable of working with various issues couples face. Another great thing about online therapy is that it's often easier to switch providers if you dislike the first person you see. It's incredibly important to make sure that any provider you see is licensed, and it's most critical to ensure that you're seeing someone who can truly help you. 

Can couples counseling improve communication skills?

Effective communication is one of the key elements of a healthy relationship. Couples therapy interventions often involve communication exercises such as reflective listening to help couples develop their communication skills and resolve conflict in a constructive way. Reflective listening involves focusing on what your partner is saying and repeating it to them. Learning to listen and communicate effectively can also help couples overcome cognitive distortions, such as all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, and overgeneralization.

Another reason that people consider couples therapy is because they are planning a family together. Additionally, a couple may seek therapy or marriage counseling if they feel as though they are disengaged from their significant other in some way. For example, you and your partner may have stopped being intimate and may want to enhance your sexual satisfaction, or you may feel emotionally distant from one another. You can learn how to spice a relationship up in therapy, or you can learn to cultivate a more loving relationship. You can also work on things like trust, displaying affection, and expressing gratitude. A marriage and family therapist can also teach you problem-solving skills that can help you resolve issues caused by external stressors.

Therapy does not always mean that there is an active issue in your relationship. Many people go to premarital counseling to prepare for married life, and studies show that those who go to pre-marriage counseling are more likely to have a successful marriage. There are also married couples without relationship distress who attend counseling to maintain a healthy relationship and gain a deeper understanding of their spouse.

You don't have to feel ready for couples counseling to go to couples counseling. Starting couples therapy is a big step, and especially if therapy or counseling is new to a couple, therapy can be intimidating at first. Remember, though, that licensed marriage and family counselors have generally worked with a wide variety of couples and families and have helped people navigate all kinds of relationships. There are many different kinds of relationships as there are people, so don't feel like your relationship needs to look any specific way to go to therapy or be accepted in a therapy office. What matters is that both you and your partner are willing to participate in couples therapy exercises and put in the work beyond your therapy sessions. 

What is the success rate of couples counseling?

Statistics regarding couples counseling are promising. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is shown to be incredibly successful, with 70% to 75% of couples finding success in the method and 90% of couples finding substantial improvement in EFT. One study showed that 98% of people who underwent couples’ therapy stated that their care was "good" or excellent." Good therapeutic relationships in couples therapy are something that matters. It's essential to have a provider that makes you feel comfortable talking about romantic relationships and understanding you and your partner. Suppose you can't talk about relationship issues with your couple’s therapist. In that case, it's critical to seek counseling services elsewhere from someone whom you and your partner feel good about seeing and who both of you can open up to.

Other commonly asked questions

Can a therapist tell you to leave your partner?

A couples therapist should not tell you to leave your partner. A couples’ therapist serves as an objective neutral party and should objectively help you through any relationship issues. Your therapist should never make big decisions for you. Rather, they should support you as you make your own choices. A couples’ therapist providing counseling services should guide you, listen, and, if applicable, teach you new skills as you work through the choices you have to make as well as any feelings related to the choices you have at hand. However, there may be exceptions when dealing with issues related to domestic violence and abuse.

While a therapist won't tell you to leave your partner, if you are actively looking to leave your partner or get a divorce, know that therapy is a safe place for you to work through that issue. If you plan to separate from your significant other, you and your partner can go to therapy to help yourself separate peacefully. This can be helpful in any scenario, but couples with children often go this route because of the potential difficulties navigating child custody and other issues.

Do marriage counselors take sides?

A marriage counselor does not take sides; if they do, this is unprofessional, and it is advised that you seek a new therapist. A couples’ therapist is there to be an objective neutral party. Part of what can be so helpful about marriage therapy is that the therapist often offers an outside perspective. Couples therapy should be a place where you both feel safe and heard. You should be able to express yourself, and you should both have the space to do so. 

A couples’ therapist should help you mediate conflict and help you avoid issues that may arise in common arguments like talking over one another or feeling as though you are not being listened to. Any relationship counseling, whether it's premarital counseling, divorce counseling, marriage counseling, or general couples’ therapy, should provide an objective and supportive environment with the goal of communication, understanding, and amicability.

Is online therapy more affordable than in-person counseling?

Online therapy is often more affordable than in-person therapy. Online therapy starts at about $65 per session and is billed monthly, far different from in-person therapy, which can cost up to around $800 a month if your insurance company doesn't cover any of it. You don't need to pay a fortune or strain yourself financially to get the help you need. Call your insurance provider to see what they cover or search the online network of therapists at an online therapy website of your choice to find an affordable option for you.

What are some common types of couples counseling techniques?

Contrary to popular belief, there are far more than three types of counseling. However, within couples’ counseling, a few very popular couples counseling techniques and approaches have proven successful for many individuals.

Some of the most common and successful types of therapy for couples and individuals include:

• Imago relationship therapy. Imago therapy focuses on the relationship image that each partner has. This counseling style hinges on childhood experiences and understanding how those childhood experiences affect the current relationship.

• The Gottman method. This type of counseling approaches the defensiveness that some couples struggle with when managing conflict. This counseling style relies on creating a "sound relationship house" that breaks down barriers and helps couples live more harmoniously.

• Emotionally focused therapy. Developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, this popular counseling style has three main goals: 1) reposition your standing throughout an argument to have more productive conversations, 2) increase the strength of the bond between partners, and 3) be aware of your and your partner's emotional states. This type of counseling approaches relationships as a commitment between two people and improves the relationship's emotions.

• Narrative therapy. A narrative form of therapy employs storytelling to help separate you from your symptoms and concerns and focus on the positive aspects of your relationship. In other words, the therapist helps you understand that your problems don't define you or your relationships.

• Psychodynamic couples therapy. This type of therapy explores how underlying hopes and hidden fears can drive your and your partner’s behaviors, helping you resolve issues and understand each other on a deeper level. Your therapist may also help you address unresolved issues from past relationships. 

None of these types of counseling are mutually exclusive, and many couples with or without relationship distress may experience positive changes from experiencing multiple types of therapy. It’s also important to remember that couples therapy techniques that work for one couple won’t necessarily work for another.

Couples therapists may also utilize the five love languages to help improve relationships and develop deeper connections. The five love languages are physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, and gifts. Recognizing each other’s love language can lead to a deeper understanding of each other’s wants and needs, resulting in a healthier relationship dynamic. For example, if one partner prefers physical touch while the other prefers quality time, they might not be expressing gratitude and love in a way their partner recognizes.    

What are the different counseling styles?

There are countless different counseling approaches. The counseling style that works best for you often relates to your concerns and your type of person.

Different counseling styles to improve relationship satisfaction include narrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), imago relationship therapy, behavioral couples therapy, exposure therapy, sex therapy, aversion therapy, and many others. Choosing which counseling style is best for you is often a mutual choice between you and your mental health professional based on your needs, preferences, and therapy goals.

There are different types of therapy designed for different needs. If, for example, you and your partner have a very poor image of what your relationship is like together, imago relationship therapy may be an appropriate counseling style to utilize. On the other hand, if you or your partner tend to have poor self-image due to relationship problems and external stressors, narrative therapy may be a more appropriate counseling style to try. If you struggle with negative behavior patterns, behavioral couples therapy may be beneficial. Some therapists may utilize an approach that emphasizes self-reflection instead of placing blame on each other.

Regardless of the approach, what matters most is that both partners are fully present and willing to work through their relationship difficulties. No amount of couples therapy techniques and couples therapy interventions can repair a relationship if only one partner is willing to put in the effort.

What are the five types of therapy?

There are five overarching types of therapy. Most other types of therapy fall into one of these categories or may span multiple.

The five types of therapy generally accepted by medical professionals are:

• Psychoanalysis and psychodynamic therapies. This type of therapy focuses on related unconscious thoughts and meanings with real actions and negative thoughts.

• Behavioral therapy. This type of therapy focuses on how learning can affect normal and abnormal behaviors. A classic example of behavioral therapy is Pavlov's dogs, who salivate at the sound of a bell after being trained to be fed right after ringing a bell.

• Cognitive therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy. This type of therapy is all about thoughts rather than actions. It attempts to change how we think about a problem rather than just the final result.

• Humanistic therapy. This type of therapy relies on humanity's capacity to make rational and informed decisions. It is also very focused on empathy and respect for others as the main pillars.

• Integrative or holistic therapy. Integrative or holistic therapy blends elements from many previously listed therapy types into one holistic therapeutic experience.

What are the five performance steps of counseling?

How counseling approaches solving problems can be unique and is generally tailored depending on the client. Whether it is online counseling or in-person counseling, the main principles remain the same.

Any type of therapy or counseling is likely to be a multi-step process, and your relationship with your therapist will likely evolve. The basic five-step process of counseling and measuring your progress throughout is as follows:

1. Relationship building. Choosing a counselor who is right for you is difficult but necessary. You're more likely to have a better relationship and be more open with your counselor if you feel safe and comfortable.

2. Problems assessment. In this step, you'll likely have the counselor or other mental health professional in question find out what is truly going on in your mind as you experience problems. They may inquire about your symptoms and experiences to fully understand where you're coming from.

3. Goal setting. Setting goals is a critical element of almost all counseling approaches.

4. Counseling intervention. This is where the counselor can implement a specific treatment plan. This step often lasts the longest.

5. Evaluation and, eventually, termination. Ideally, counseling ends, and the patient has the tools to solve problems for themselves in the future.

What are the basic principles of counseling?

There are many fundamental principles of counseling seen across all types of counseling, including online counseling, school counseling, and in-person counseling.

First, counseling relies on a patient to be honest and open with their thoughts and feelings. 

Additionally, counseling typically requires building a relationship between the patient and counselor. This is why choosing a counselor who makes you feel comfortable and empowered is very important. Counseling also involves setting goals and creating a plan for achieving those goals.

Finally, treatment usually ends with a meta-evaluation and efforts to equip patients with tools to solve their future problems.

Nearly all lines of counseling tend to display these principles. No matter what type of counseling you seek out, these ideas are important to keep in mind.

It's up to you to determine who and what you are most comfortable with when counseling. So long as you keep these principles in the back of your mind, you're likely to set yourself up for success and have a genuinely beneficial, therapeutic experience.