When Is It Time for Relationship Counselling?
Therapy or counselling can be a good choice for any couple who have hit a rough patch in their relationship, but who aren't quite ready to call it quits and break up. This can include couples who are dating or those who are married; some relationship counselling might also be tailored for entire families. If you're having problems in a relationship but aren't sure if counselling is the answer, note a few factors to keep in mind and that will help you decide if this is the right step for you.
One of you has made or gone through major life changes
If your partner has changed religious beliefs, has moved to another state or country, or has gone through a major health crisis, this can affect a relationship. There are new challenges you might face in trying to balance beliefs you don't share, in trying to work out that distance between you, or in trying to manage the stress of health concerns.
A relationship counsellor can help you to better communicate your feelings and concerns during this time, and help you to work out compromises in the relationship that weren't needed before. The counsellor can also ensure that neither of you is taking your stress and anxiety about these changes out on the other, and can also help you determine if the relationship should even end because of certain major life changes.
You can't communicate your own needs
Your partner may not be selfish, but you may still struggle to communicate your own needs and preferences to him or her. This might not be an issue if you're just casually dating, but when you're in a serious relationship, your partner may want to get married, have children, move to a certain location, and so on, and if you can't communicate your needs and preferences, you may feel very stressed and unhappy. A relationship counsellor can help you to better communicate how you feel without worrying about being rejected or causing problems with your partner.
Negative emotions
Everyone in a relationship will feel anger, frustration, and other such negative emotions from time to time. However, if you always feel negative around your partner, it's time for counselling. While relationships have their ups and downs, they should make you happy overall, and not be marked by persistent irritation, anxiety, and other such feelings. A counsellor can help you get to the root of the issues and help you learn a better perspective about the relationship and your partner, so you don't always have such negative emotions.
Share