For many couples, the idea of bringing a third party into their intimate relationship is scary -- or just plain out of the question.
Luckily, the stigma associated with couples therapy and counseling is well on its way out. Healthy couples are enlisting counseling professionals to help them work through sticky patches in their marriages, large and small, and they are better for it.
Still, getting started can be tricky. So, here are tips to help you decide if marriage therapy is for you, how to talk to your partner about it, maximize your experience, and ensure it's working once you get there.
Some people seek out a professional when their pain is too much to manage or when confronting their current reality (and situation) is too overwhelming. Others might seek out a therapist when they start to recognize negative patterns in their marriage.
Marriage therapy can come in various forms and offers a way to break patterns, create change, and find something different in life, as described by research in The History Of Professional Marriage And Family Therapy.
It is wise to enlist the help and guidance of a professional whenever you can't find the solutions to the problems you have, the questions you are asking, or the goal you are trying to accomplish in your marriage is not coming together despite your best efforts. If you have been reaching your goal for six months or more and still don't see the progress you want, then by all means, reach out for help.
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It is not uncommon for one spouse to show more interest or motivation in seeking out couples counseling. One way to bring up therapy, especially if you have seen an individual counselor, is to tell your partner their participation would be beneficial (i.e., offering the therapist another perspective).
Caution: if you have been seeing someone individually for a few months or longer, you may find your partner is resistant or even intimidated to visit your therapist. If this is the case, give them the task of finding someone they like for you both to see.
Another way to talk with your spouse is to tell them you want to increase the positives in the relationship. Sure, we all have our complaints and negative aspects within the relationship, but a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology shows it is easier to increase the positives than decrease the negatives (although a good therapist will help you do both!).
Instead of concentrating on negative behaviors ("We need therapy because you do everything wrong!"), focus on the hope for the positive ("I want to laugh more and have fun with you... and therapy can help us do that."). How can your partner argue with that?
Here are four tips for talking to your partner about entering counseling:
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There are several avenues to finding a compatible relationship professional:
Most therapists offer a free phone consultation. Take advantage of this. It allows you to talk with them and see if they specialize in your presenting issue.
I once had someone tell me she scheduled an appointment because she liked the sound of my voice. Trust your instincts. When you are ready, contact one or two. See if they offer an initial consultation, during which you can consider the following:
Answers to these questions are all clues that you have found a compatible pro with whom to work.
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Once you've started couples therapy, make sure you're both comfortable with the therapist. Be honest, even when it's difficult. The office should feel safe and professional. A case study of long-term couples counseling in Frontiers in Psychology encourages you to be sure the therapist is involved, focused, and offers meaningful feedback.
If you don't feel good about the therapist, it might be a good idea to look for a better match. A professional therapist should let you know if therapy is not helping, whether to consider separation or divorce, whether you are adequately motivated to reconcile, or if you have individual problems to work on first.
Trust your instincts! If you have a therapist who lets you yell at each other during the session, this does not foster a feeling of safety (with your partner or therapist).
Therapy works when you have permission to "create a space" for alternative modes of interactions, reconnection, and change and when it offers you communication tools and coping skills, as shown in the Gottman Institute's Marriage Survival Kit. If you are going to a therapist's office to do the same thing you do at home, it's time to try a new professional.
If one or both of you feel the pro is siding with one of you and no longer balanced, then bring up this concern right away and move on if need be.
Also, sometimes the timing for relationship growth and healing is not the same for both people in a relationship, and while sometimes it's wise to move on from a pro for couple help, the same pro may, possibly, be a wonderful fit for one of you individually.
Individual help from a pro can tremendously help with your relationship patterns and go a long way in helping you be able to create a happy, thriving relationship and marriage.
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Anne Crowley is a licensed psychologist who has over 15 years of experience working with adolescents, adults, and couples in a variety of settings.
Lori Edelson is a psychotherapist who works with adults and children for mood disorders, personality disorders, grief, and more.