Marriage is a beautiful bond between two people. However, sometimes, it can be challenging to keep the spark alive in a relationship. This is where marriage counseling comes into play. Various forms of marriage counseling are available, and every couple can benefit from them in different ways. Whether you’re facing a communication gap, trust issues, or any other problems in your marriage, counseling can help. This blog post will explore different forms of marriage counseling that can support you and your partner.
First lets talk about the differnent models.
Different Marriage Counseling Models
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a technique that has been widely used for a variety of mental health issues. However, it’s also used for marriage counseling. CBT-oriented marriage counseling helps couples understand how their thoughts and behaviors impact their relationship. Through CBT, couples learn valuable communication skills that can help them navigate conflicts appropriately.
The Gottman Method
The Gottman Method is one of the most renowned and effective marriage counseling methods. This technique prepares couples for marriage by providing them with communication and conflict-resolution skills. Additionally, it helps couples increase their empathy for each other and improve their overall connection.
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is a counseling method that aims at building emotional connectivity and bonding between partners. It’s mostly used for couples struggling with marriage problems, including intimacy issues, communication gaps, and emotional distance. EFT works by enhancing the emotional intelligence of both partners and helping them learn how to connect at an emotional level. This is the model that most therapists at Unload It Therapy are trained in.
Whats the difference of the services?
Discernment Counseling
Discernment counseling is a brief counseling technique that aims to assist couples in deciding whether to stay married. The difference between discernment counseling, and traditional marriage counseling is that discernment counseling is to help a couple to decide if they want to work towards bettering the issues in their marriage. Discernment counseling does not help you work on the issues in the marriage, that is marriage counseling. Discernment counseling is about clarity on how to move forward, whether moving apart or working on the marriage.
Marriage Counseling
Marriage counseling, or couples therapy, is a service that is designed to help couples resolve the issues that are present. These issues are things like communication, infidelity, and trust among others. This service is best served to a couple where both partners know that they want to work on their relationship, and are ready to make the changes necessary to resolve the issues. Want an insider tip?: To work on any relationship, you have to be ready to make changes, individually. Its very easy to outline what your partner needs to change. However, the couples who make the most progress the fastest, are the ones where both parties have been able to come to the point where they understand their role in the issues, and are ready to get support to do something about it.
Couples Intensive
This is just what it sounds like, intense! But in the best way. This is where a couple will dedicate several hours to work with their therapist on the issues present in their relationship. Usually, a 2-day service, our couples intensive starts with a battery of research-backed assessments, so the therapists can more specifically pinpoint the issues present. The result? Getting several months of therapy in two days. This can be a wonderful jump start or anchor to the support that you may need.
Couples Clarity Assesment
This is one of our newest services. It is the beginning of our couples assessment, separated into its own service. You will start with a battery of assessments, and be able to meet with the therapy team to address issues and go over recommendations. Each couple will leave with a detailed report that will be emailed to them at the end of the 80 minute session. The couple can take this information to their therapist, begin therapy, or take it home and implement the recommendations on their own.
Conclusion
Marriage counseling is an effective tool that can help couples improve communication, deepen their connection, and rebuild their marriage. It’s essential to know the benefits and limitations of different forms of counseling to choose one that suits your marriage needs. Counseling may seem daunting at first, but it’s the beginning stage of a second chance to strengthen the bond between you and your spouse. You can try different forms of counseling and seek a professional’s help to decide on the type of counseling best for you. Remember that counseling is normal, and it’s okay to need help. With the right form of counseling, you and your partner can experience a fulfilling marriage and reignite the love in your relationship.
At Unload It therapy, our marriage and family therapist use effective, heavily researched marriage counseling models such as EFT, Gottman, and Discernment Counseling. Contact us today to start rebuilding the connection in your marriage.
About the Author
Roma Williams is a licensed marriage and family therapist and supervisor (LMFT-S) and the founder of Unload It Therapy in Houston, Texas. She has over a decade of experience in the mental health field, with a history of providing counseling services to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Roma brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her practice. Her warm and empathetic approach to therapy has transformed the lives of countless clients who have sought her guidance. Roma is now also committed to helping to usher in the next generation of compassionate, responsible therapists through the weekly supervision she provides to the therapists of Unload It Therapy.
