Make These Couples’ Counseling Worksheets Work For You
Couples counseling is all about you and your partner working both individually and together to improve your relationship with yourself and your partner. However, couples counseling doesn't have to be going to a psychiatrist's office and telling 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 feel more comfortable together and better understand each other at the same time, which is where these couples counseling worksheets can help.
Couples counseling worksheets
Worksheets can focus primarily on 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 your relationship more healthily get through those problems.
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. The more you openly and non-judgmentally talk about things, the more opportunity there may be for your relationship to grow, so make sure you don't rush when it comes to getting through the worksheets. At the end of the day, relationship worksheets will ultimately tackle the advantages of sustaining good and healthy relationships as you work through any issues that you may have.
Finding the worksheets you need
If you are already talking with a professional, be 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 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 may help you through those problems. They can also 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.
Takeaway
If you're looking for a therapist, consider checking out Regain to find out more about your options. You will be matched with a therapist who fits your needs and preferences, but you can switch therapists at any time. The online nature can be a boon for anyone who is struggling with scheduling appointments or anyone who doesn't feel totally comfortable with being in an office setting.
Research indicates that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for a variety of conditions and concerns, including aiding relationships. A 2022 study on relationship counseling held via video conferencing found that therapeutic alliance (the degree of trust and comfort between client and therapist) did not differ between online and in-person therapy. Additionally, the study “indicated improvements in relationship satisfaction, mental health, and all other outcome scores over time” that were comparable to those of couples who received in-person therapy.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can couples’ counseling make things worse?
In some situations, yes. If you have a therapist who 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 may 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.
It is very important that when couples decide to go to therapy, they find a licensed therapist whom they both trust and respect, and who has 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 feel that your therapist is being biased toward one of you or the other.
In situations where a person might be in an abusive relationship, counseling could make things worse at home. In an abusive relationship, the abuser may feel that they must be in charge, and their partner attending therapy could be seen as a threat to them. This can be 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.
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. Some online options, such as those through ReGain, start at $65 per session without insurance.
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 who may recommend divorce for clients. In that case, it is highly recommended to seek a second opinion and to see another therapist who can be non-biased. 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, should you wish to. Your therapist is there to help you overcome your struggles, your past, and any emotional damage that you may have experienced. They should not judge you or 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 can take a few tries to find one who fits, but it is worth taking the time to find that therapist.
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