Can Couples Therapy Help A Toxic Relationship?

Relationships are hard work. In fact, most couples spend years trying to figure it out, which can be extremely difficult. This is especially true when your relationship is struggling, which is when couples therapy may help. In this blog post, we will explore the different types of therapy and what couples therapy can do for you. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is Couples Therapy And How Can It Help Your Relationship

Couples therapy is any occasion where a couple meets with a professional therapist to discuss their issues, learn new communication skills and work together to improve their relationship.

Couples therapy is beneficial for couples who are dealing with communication problems, high levels of conflict, infidelity, divorce, and other types of relationship issues.

Couples therapy involves both partners meeting with a therapist to discuss their issues, identify and address problems, and learn how to communicate more effectively. During these sessions, therapists will also teach clients new communication skills that will help them resolve conflict more peacefully in the future.

Why Many Couples Therapy Experiences Are Negative

Many couples therapy experiences are negative. There are many reasons for this.

The first reason is that couples therapy can be painful. Each partner has to face their own issues and past hurt, and work through this at their own pace. This is usually difficult, even if the partner has already worked on these issues before.

Another reason is that many therapists don't take advantage of couples therapy works. Many therapists do not help couples deal with their issues, or help couples work together to solve their issues.

Another common reason many couples therapy experiences are negative is because some couples simply aren't ready for therapy. If couples aren't ready, therapy will not work.

Why Some Therapists Fail To Help Couples And What You Can Do About It

Couples therapy works when both partners have been willing to work on their relationship and have committed to the process. Yet, working with a therapist is like diving in to a new, unfamiliar world. That is why it is so important to choose a marriage therapist who you feel comfortable with and who will actually work with you - instead of against you - to help you improve your relationship.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of therapists who simply do not have what it takes to help people save their relationships. Here are a few of the things to look for in a marriage therapist:

Positive attitude: Your marriage therapist needs to have a positive attitude, and they need to believe that they can actually help you strengthen your relationship. Your therapist needs to have the ability to look at your current relationship and come up with targeted solutions that actually work.

What To Look For In A Good Couples Therapist, Including Certifications And Experience

Couples therapy can be an effective method for healing your relationship. It can also help you and your partner discover underlying issues that you may have worked around for years. But how do you know a good couples therapist from a bad one? Here are a few things to consider when looking for a new therapist:

Marriage and Family Therapist (MFTA) - A marriage and family therapist can help you and your partner address a wide range of issues, including communication problems, family problems, and mental health issues. Though some states grant licenses to less experienced therapists, most states require that marriage and family therapists have a master's degree and at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - While marriage and family therapists often work with couples, licensed clinical social workers typically focus on individual therapy sessions. However, many social workers also work with couples, providing emotional support and helping couples work through past issues. Like marriage and family therapists, most states require LCSWs to complete a master's degree and 3,000 hours of supervised experience.

Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (MFTI) - While an MFTI can't practice independently, they can work under the supervision of an MFT. Many MFTIs have experience working with clients on a short-term basis,

The Main Types Of Therapy Used In Couples Therapy

The main types of therapy used in couples therapy are relationship therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution-focused therapy.

Relationship therapy: Relationship therapy focuses on improving communication between couples. The goal of relationship therapy is to help couples reach a deeper understanding of how they communicate and what drives a wedge between them. Often, the therapist will assign homework to the couple to practice communicating effectively with each other.

Cognitive behavioral therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy helps couples identify negative, destructive thought patterns. The goal is to identify how these negative thought patterns affect couples' communication and how they impact the relationship as a whole. Once couples have identified negative thought patterns, the therapist will help the couple overcome them by practicing positive, constructive behaviors.

Solution-focused therapy: Solution-focused therapy focuses on helping couples find solutions to their problems, rather than finding problems to solve. Couples begin by applying the principles of the therapy to their relationship. The therapist asks them to identify obstacles that prevent them from moving forward. Then, the therapist helps the couple find solutions to overcome those obstacles.

Couples therapy can be helpful in a variety of situations. Whether you are struggling in your relationship, going through a challenging life event, or you simply want to strengthen your relationship, therapy may be able to help. If you are thinking about trying couples therapy, the first step is to schedule an appointment with a couples therapist. Once you have completed your appointment, you and your counselor can decide if therapy is right for you and your situation. I hope that this post has been helpful! Thanks for reading!

 

If you are looking for a relationship therapist please feel free to contact:

Dr. Maryann B Schaefer Psychotherapy
5 Travers Street
Manhasset, NY 11030
+15166271145
www.drmaryannbschaefer.com