So you want to know more about couples therapy. You’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re in a marriage that’s become harder over time, a relationship that feels unhealthy, or are thinking of getting married but want to make sure you’re ready, coming to therapy with your partner is a big step. The fact that you’re even thinking about couples therapy is a great sign! We applaud your willingness to invest time and energy in creating your happiest, healthiest relationship with your partner. So without further ado, we’ll be giving answers to some of the most common questions we get about couples therapy.
What is the point of couples therapy?
Most couples we see come to therapy for completely different reasons. Some are working through major issues (like infidelity) or challenges (like a cancer diagnosis or being out of work). Other couples feel like they’re having communication breakdowns. Some simply want to build the strongest, healthiest relationship they possibly can and are looking for tools to help them become a better partner. In short, there is no single purpose of couples therapy.
It’s all about building your best relationship with your specific partner. Because every individual is so different and there are two of you in the relationship, your perfect relationship is going to look very different from anyone else’s. Couples therapy is about finding what works for you so you can build and sustain a life-giving, supportive, and even fun relationship.
What types of couples benefit from couples therapy?
Any type of couple! No, really. All of us benefit from setting aside time and dedicating energy to strengthening our relationships. After all, relationships are one of the best parts of life, but they’re also one of the hardest. Couples therapy helps you minimize the hardships and strengthen all the things that make your relationship great.
At Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center, we see a wide variety of couples. Of course, we help married couples. But we also work with couples who are contemplating divorce or separation, as well as those who have already divorced or separated. Even then, creating a healthy relationship is key. We also love working with couples who have blended families. We know that can bring unique challenges and we’re here to work with you through them.
Our couples therapy is open to straight and LGTBQ+ couples. You don’t have to be married, either. We offer premarital and cohabitation couples therapy.
And, even if your partner isn’t yet open to coming to couples therapy, don’t count yourself out. We’d love to see you independently. Your willingness to work on your relationship is applaudable, and we can help you give it legs.
What types of issues can couples therapy help?
Couples therapy can help you work through anything that’s making your relationship feel challenging, stunted, or heavy. Some examples include:
- Communication issues
- Loss of passion
- Broken trust
- Different values or lifestyle choices
- Parenting challenges
- Anger
- Violence
- Financial hardship
This is just a short list of examples and is by no means comprehensive. Whatever’s keeping your relationship from being its healthiest and happiest, therapy is here as a resource to help you and your partner overcome.
How long does couples therapy take to work?
There is no set length of time that makes couples therapy effective. It all depends on you and your partner and how open you are to working from the first session. That very first session might open up the floodgates and you might be able to start working through your challenges right away. Other times, it might take time to soften the walls and open up the lines of communication. Generally, most couples start to see some significant improvement within three to six months of weekly sessions.
This is just a short list of frequently asked questions, but we know that you might have more specific ones. And we’re here to answer them! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center. You can contact us via phone, email, the form on our site, or even text. Whatever works best for you, we’d love to hear from you.
