How Can Couples Therapy Improve Your Relationship?
Key takeaways
- Couples therapy can support your relationship. It can help to rebuild trust, improve communication, and strengthen your connection.
- A trained therapist facilitates couples therapy sessions, helping partners listen to one another and teaching them valuable communication and conflict resolution skills.
- Online couples counseling is both convenient and affordable and has been shown to be as effective as in-person therapy.
Most couples experience challenges at some point in their relationship, and couples therapy can help you build healthy relationship skills. The key to a healthy relationship is how partners handle any relationship challenges that come up. While it’s possible to handle issues on your own, a couples therapist can act as an expert guide, facilitating healthy and constructive conversations. A therapist can help you rebuild trust, improve communication, and strengthen your connection.
How can couples therapy help?
Couples seek therapy for a variety of reasons, and therapy can support people of any sexual orientation in any type of relationship. It can help you and your partner to work through problems and foster a healthy relationship.
Ways a relationship can improve with counseling
Couples therapy can help improve a relationship in a number of areas:
- Increased trust
- More emotional intimacy
- Stronger connection
- Better communication
- Improved conflict resolution skills
What happens in couples therapy sessions?
At the first couples counseling session, the therapist and the clients typically take time to get to know one another. The therapist may ask about relationship difficulties, make an initial assessment, and decide on therapy goals with the couple.
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At subsequent sessions, the therapeutic process will focus on relationship dynamics and skills. The therapist can help you to express your own feelings and listen to those of your partner. They may act as a facilitator as you solve problems together. They can also teach relationship skills that you can practice at home.
Couples therapy skills
The following are some of the major skills that you will focus on in couples therapy:
- Problem solving skills
- Conflict resolution skills
- Communication skills (such as active listening and “I” statements)
- Skills for improved emotional intimacy and connection
What role does a couples therapist play?
Typically, couples therapists are licensed marriage and family therapists who are specially trained to support people with relationship issues. These licensed therapists act as guides for couples as they investigate their relationship dynamics and learn to work through conflicts. A couples therapist can facilitate and educate, but they don’t usually provide direct advice.
Other types of therapy
Even if you are going to couples therapy, other kinds of therapy can be helpful at the same time. Individual therapy sessions can help you work through personal issues and improve your mental health, which can ultimately help your relationship. In some cases, you may want to pair couples therapy with family therapy, especially if children or other family members are involved in unhealthy family dynamics.
How much does couples therapy cost?
You might be wondering, “how much does couples therapy cost?” Couples therapy typically costs somewhere from $100 to $200 per session, depending on location, type of therapy, and therapist experience. In most cases, insurance will not cover couples therapy, but if one partner has a diagnosed mental health disorder that affects the relationship, insurance may cover it.
Luckily, online platforms offer convenient and low-cost therapy for couples. Online therapy is also flexible, offering ease of scheduling and the ability to attend sessions from the comfort of your own home. Furthermore, online therapy has been shown to be as effective as in-person therapy.
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Takeaway
What is the success rate of couples therapy?
The majority of people who participate in couples therapy experience benefits. Studies suggest that the average person is “better off” after couples therapy than between 70 and 80% of people who do not attend sessions.
What usually happens in couples therapy?
No two couples therapy sessions will be exactly alike. The therapy process can vary depending on factors such as treatment goals, therapist approach, and individual relationship dynamics. Typically, a marriage counselor or couples therapist will provide a safe space for both partners to discuss their concerns about the relationship. Rather than taking sides, the therapist may remain neutral and offer strategies for the couple to use in order to resolve issues, increase mutual understanding, and enjoy a higher level of relationship satisfaction.
What kind of therapy is best for couples?
It could depend on various aspects of the couple’s relationship, including the level of relationship distress and the exact relationship issues the couple is dealing with. Popular types of couples and marriage counseling include cognitive behavioral therapy for couples, emotionally focused therapy, and the Gottman Method. Certain types of couples may benefit from specific therapeutic approaches. For example, LGBTQ+-affirmative therapy is often recommended for LGBTQ couples.
Does insurance cover couple therapy?
Not usually. However, if one or more partners are diagnosed with a mental health condition, your plan may provide coverage for psychotherapy, including both couples and individual sessions.
What is the average cost for couples therapy?
Traditional couples therapy in the U.S. may range from $100 to $200 per session without insurance coverage. Online therapy can be more affordable, starting at just $70 per week. Pricing is based on factors such as your location, referral source, preferences, therapist availability and any applicable discounts or promotions that might apply.
What percentage of couples survive couples therapy?
According to some estimates, roughly 75% of couples successfully complete couples therapy. Even couples who decide to go their separate ways following therapy could benefit from the guidance of a licensed therapist during the break-up or divorce.
Is there a way to get free couples therapy?
Free couples therapy is rare. In some cases, your insurance plan or health savings account may reimburse you for the cost of treatment. In most cases, this requires a diagnosis of a mental health condition that negatively impacts relationship patterns.
How long is typical couples therapy?
Individual couples therapy sessions may last from half an hour to an hour, depending on the therapist, the treatment method, and the clients’ preferences. Overall, couples may stay in therapy for a few months to a few years, depending on their progress.
Is it worth getting couples therapy?
Many couples find couples therapy worthwhile. This type of therapy can help couples identify issues that may be affecting the relationship such as anger management problems, intimacy concerns, or substance use issues, for instance. It can also help them capitalize on the positive aspects of the relationship and improve communication skills. Essentially, couples counseling can give individuals hope for their relationship and the tools to improve it.
When not to do couples therapy?
There could be several instances when couples therapy might not be appropriate. Some of these may include:
- When there’s active substance misuse
- When there’s abuse of any kind
- When one partner has already decided it’s over
- When one partner is actively having an affair or living a double life
- When the therapist doesn’t acknowledge a person’s culture, gender identity, or history of trauma
In these cases, individual therapy or couples therapy with a different therapist may be more suitable.
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