Updated February 24, 2021
Medically Reviewed By: Karen Devlin, LPC
Couples counseling is all about you and your partner who are willing to give and take. If you aren't, then you're not going to be able to succeed in this type of experience. Still, couples counseling doesn't have to be going to a psychiatrist's office and sharing all of your secrets. Rather, it can be about you and your partner going through worksheets and programs that are designed to help you both be more comfortable together and understand each other at the same time, which is where these couples counseling worksheets can help.
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Couples Counseling Worksheets
When you're looking to improve your relationship and work with your partner, you want to take a look at different worksheets and systems that could work for you. Worksheets can actually be great because they're focused on what's going on in your relationship at the time, and then they help you figure out what to do in the future as well. The key is making sure that you go through the worksheets thoroughly and that you're being honest at all times.
Worksheets can focus on just helping you and your partner open up to each other more, or they can focus on specific problems that you have together. For example, if you're having difficulty with communication or trust, you can work on these types of worksheets to help you and your partner get through those problems. No matter what you're doing, you want to make sure you're going through the process as easy as you can. It may not be a quick process, and you want to focus on getting through every portion of the worksheet.
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Quality is the most important thing when it comes to these types of programs. You want to go through each aspect and make sure you discuss it fully. That's how you're going to really improve your experience and your relationship. The more you talk about things, the better off your relationship is going to be, so make sure you don't jump the gun when it comes to just getting through the worksheets. You want to use them for their intended purpose after all.
Finding The Worksheets You Need
If you are already talking with a professional you want to make sure that you talk to them about the possibility of worksheets or other things you can take home with you. These worksheets are generally something you'll work on in your own time, but you can definitely work on them with your therapist as well. If you do, they'll be able to help you discuss the problems that you're facing and talk about the things that are going to help you through those problems. They'll also be able to keep you talking about issues that you may be having, instead of letting you just skate over some things you don't want to discuss.
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If you're looking for a psychiatrist you may want to check out Regain to find out even more about your options. They have a whole bunch of great psychiatrists that will help you take care of anything that you and your partner are facing. All you have to do is get online and before you know it you'll be talking with a psychiatrist right from your own house. That can be great for anyone who is struggling with scheduling appointments or anyone who doesn't feel totally comfortable when they're in a psychiatrist's office. By scheduling something in your own home you're definitely going to feel a whole lot better about yourself and about opening up to the people who can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Can couples counseling make things worse?
In some situations, it unfortunately can. If you have a therapist that is used to dealing with individuals rather than couples, or one that has not been properly trained in couples counseling, then they may try to treat each person as an individual rather than both parties together as a couple.
In situations such as this, the therapist may unintentionally side with one party over the other. They tend to try to solve the individual problems each person has rather than trying to get the couple to work together as a team to shoulder the blame. When this happens, one partner is more likely to feel attacked, and they may feel as if the therapist is on their spouse’s side.
That then makes the reluctant partner even more reluctant to go to therapy, and will likely make their home situation worse. It is very important that when couples decide to go to therapy, they find a licensed therapist that they both trust and respect that has a lot of experience in couples' therapy. It is also important to ensure that you both feel comfortable during the therapy sessions and that at no point do either of you ever feel singled out for blame.
In situations where a person might be in an abusive relationship, counseling could make things worse at home. In an abusive relationship, the abuser always feels that they have to be in charge, and being put in the spotlight during therapy could set off their anger. This is especially true in cases of emotional or verbal abuse.
If you are in an abusive relationship, help is available. The national domestic abuse hotline is open 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233.
- How do couples do counselling?
Relationship worksheets for couples such as an exploration worksheet exploring problems in your relationship, conflict resolution, and defining your romantic relationship are often used. These couple therapy worksheets are a great way to identify problems in your relationship that you may not even realize are there. In addition, a couples’ therapy worksheet helps bring to light the strengths and positives in your relationship as well.
The exploration worksheet, qualities worksheet, activities worksheets, and couples' worksheets ask a wide variety of questions that will pertain to your particular situation. These couples’ therapy worksheets will also ask you questions of a much broader range about your marriage and attitudes in general.
The couples’ therapy worksheets are typically given to each spouse privately so that they can answer the way they truly feel without worrying about the expectation of their spouse. This helps get to the root of problems, and the therapist will then have you discuss your answers with each other to see where you agree and where you vary.
There are so many different types of couples’ worksheets, and all of these worksheets are a great way to really understand what your significant other is thinking. With the help of a qualified therapist, the exploration worksheet, qualities worksheet, and activity worksheet can help strengthen your relationship or marriage significantly.
- Does counseling really help couples?
With a good couples’ therapist and a dedicated couple, about 70% of couples experience positive change after couples’ therapy. It is important to find a trained marriage therapist who is experienced in working with couples in order to achieve the best results.
A good marriage counselor will have you work on your relationship in between sessions as well as during them and will likely assign you relationship worksheets for couples to work on together. These may be activity worksheets that ask you to do certain tasks together or to participate in active listening with one another for example.
The worksheets describe things for you to do to strengthen your bond, and some worksheets ask questions that you can answer together to better understand one another. These worksheets are a great way to continue applying the things that you have learned in therapy in between sessions and long after your therapy is done.
- How much are couples therapy sessions?
Typically, couples’ counseling sessions are between $100-200 per hour, and a session will typically run 90 minutes. You will need more than one session, and the average course of treatment lasts 12 weeks to provide ample time to fully explore the relationship and the solutions for it.
- Do couples therapists ever suggest divorce?
A therapist should never suggest divorce, nor should they suggest remaining together. A therapist’s job is to help the couple come to their conclusion together, and the therapist should never become personally involved in that decision. Even if a couple were to directly ask their therapist if they should get divorced, the therapist should decline to answer.
That said, there are unfortunately some therapists that lose their professionalism and will recommend divorce for clients. In that case, it is highly recommended to seek a second opinion and to see another therapist that has more experience and is better trained. In many cases, seeing a second therapist with a different approach has been able to save marriages.
- What should I not tell my therapist?
You should be completely comfortable telling your therapist anything and everything that is on your mind. Your therapist is there to help you overcome your struggles, your past, and any emotional damage that you may have experienced. They will not judge you and will not condemn you for the things that you may tell them.
If you do not feel comfortable enough to discuss the things that are really bothering you, then it may be time to find another therapist. It often takes a few tries to find the one that fits you perfectly, but it is worth taking the time to find that therapist.
