So, you are wondering what to expect in relationship counselling? The first misconception with relationship counselling is that you have to do it when your relationship is getting complicated or on the verge of a divorce, but that is not the case.
The earlier is typically better when it comes to relationship counselling. Even when you think there isn’t anything drastically wrong in your relationship, it can help solve the minor issues that can build up and stop them from turning into a major problem.
What are the signs that you may need to do relationship counselling?
Remember that there is nothing wrong with you wanting to seek relationship counselling with your partner. The sooner that issues are resolved, the better and happier your relationship will be.
So what are the signs that you may need to go to relationship counselling? You might need counselling if:
- You’re beginning to feel as though you can’t speak to your partner about issues,
- You both have more than one problem that has been unresolved and left to build up,
- You are starting to see withdrawal, annoyance or contempt in your partner’s actions towards you,
- A traumatic event that has led to you and your partner becoming distant,
- You both are having an issue making or deciding on decisions or plans,
- You both just want to create a stronger, healthier bond as a couple.
Who is Relationship Counselling For?
It’s important to know that couples counselling isn’t just for married couples. It can be for new couples, non-monogamous couples, polyamorous relationships or LGBTQAI+ relationships.
Relationship counselling can also be for business partners and siblings and doesn’t have to be for romantically involved relationships.
Counselling can be highly effective for new or non-married couples too, as it can help unpack a lot of problems that new couples or premarital couples can go through, for example:
- Family relationships,
- Whether you want children,
- Religious beliefs or values,
- Financial stability.
Doing this work early on will help you as a partnership for the future, building the foundations for healthy communication and a prosperous relationship.
How to Find The Perfect Relationship Counselling For You
Finding relationship counselling that works for you can be a strenuous process, but there are many different types of counselling to choose from, for example:
- Registered marriage and family therapists (you don’t have to be married to attend these sessions),
- Licensed social workers,
- Licensed counsellors,
- Clinical psychologists,
- Online relationship counselling.
When seeking a therapist, most people start by looking online, or they may know of someone who has done counselling and has benefitted from it. If this is the case, it would be best to follow that recommendation as it is best to work with a counsellor who already has success stories rather than going in blind.
What to Expect
The first few sessions would be about getting a background story of you and your partner and the problems you would like to resolve or work on. You want to make sure to go into a session completely open.
You will be asked various questions to get a better picture of your relationships with your family, your partner, your childhood and sometimes more intimate questions.
To ensure couples counselling is entirely adequate for you and your relationship, putting in the time and the effort is the best thing to do. You need to make sure you attend all the meetings and that you make sure to put time aside to resolve your issues in a safe, unbiased environment.
I hope that this has answered some questions on what to expect in relationship counselling, and if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and we can take it from there.
