Marriage Counseling in Westchester, NY: Is Seeing a Marriage Counselor Worth It?

Falling in love, seeing our relationships work, and tying the knot are all wonderful experiences. However, relationships, especially marriages, come with a share of challenges. From personal struggles to long hours at work to financial stress and raising kids, all these take a toll on relationships.

This is where marriage counseling in Westchester, NY, comes in handy. Marriage counseling helps couples work through their relationship issues with the help of a trained expert.

Understanding Marriage Counseling

For couples who have benefited, marriage counseling is a haven to discuss difficult topics and help your marriage relationship grow in the unbiased moderator’s presence. Unlike individual psychotherapy sessions, marriage counseling often explores relationship dynamics and concentrates on personal growth in that relationship.

Without a marriage counselor’s intervention, common marital issues may snowball into a heap of frustration and hurt. For instance, communication issues may result in toxic cycles and constant fights that might not seem possible to break. Because of that, the sex life and emotional bond of couples suffer.

How It Works

Spouses who communicate more often question how marriage therapy works and how it may benefit them. Even if couples undergo something very serious, they still doubt the counseling. So, to help you understand how it works, here are some of the things marriage counseling touches on:

• Guidance
• Support and trust
• Communication

Types

Like individual therapy, marriage counseling uses different techniques and approaches. By learning about different forms of marriage counseling, you can find the best counselor for the job. Examples of marriage counseling include the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Solution-focused therapy
• Gottman method
• Emotionally-focused therapy
• Discernment counseling

Do Counseling Work?

Marriage therapy isn’t a walk in the park. According to experts, it is among the hardest forms of counseling, and untrained counselors have a difficult time getting everything right. Even a therapist who is well-trained doesn’t find it an easy job.

Although married couples were the only ones who used to see a marriage counselor, today, people seek help with different forms of relationships. As we speak, many people now seek marriage counseling, and they do it earlier than spouses did in the past.

However, we might think that the increased diversity and complexity of marriage issues that counselors have to deal with may mean counseling is less successful. Surprisingly, even though marriage therapy has become challenging, it has also become more effective.

What We Should Expect

Usually, the first session involves both partners. The essence of this consultation is to set the dynamic of the therapeutic environment. Before the session starts, some counselors can ask you and your significant other to have a short consultation to understand your concerns.

During consultation, your counselor might provide resources, suggestions, and worksheets to support you. If you don’t bring up a specific issue as a couple, your counselor can asks questions to see how you respond to a specific scenario at home.

When to Seek Counseling

It might be a perfect time to go for therapy if you and your partner feel dissatisfied in the relationship, more especially if you are trying to work through specific marital issues, like childcare matters, infidelity, or financial difficulties.

Some studies show that spouses who repeatedly try to improve their marriage relationships feel less satisfied and more distressed than those who make few attempts.

Simply put, if marriage therapy is available to you and your partner, it can benefit both of you to get a second opinion from an expert when issues arise. This, in turn, will enable you to manage future challenges together as a married couple.

Why Marriage Counseling Is Worth It

Building a caring and loving relationship with your significant other isn’t simple. It entails more than just buying gifts and going on dinner dates. A successful marriage requires continuous investment and work.

Whether your marriage issues have escalated because of stress or have been festering for a while now, therapy will help to get things under control. Although there is no guarantee, just a couple of weeks of marriage counseling will save your marriage and make it grow into something that both of you can be proud of. Other reasons counseling is worth it include the following:

• Create a Safer Place to Express Your Feelings

In marriage relationships, communicating more effectively comes with challenges. As a couple, you might hesitate or fear sharing your true emotions, fearing rejection or judgment from your partner. Such situations may result in resentment, misunderstandings, and bottled-up feelings.

However, trained counselors act as neutral third parties in marriage counseling, creating a safe haven to share our feelings without fearing backlash or judgment. Counselors often facilitate honest and open communication, allowing us to express our frustrations, concerns, and needs.

• Set Goals Together

Most couples enter marriage without planning, which is among the most common reasons spouses grow apart after they spend a few months together. Clear and transparent communication is crucial when it comes to life goals. If you haven’t yet had this conversation, a professional marriage counselor may help.

A professional therapist will guide you to determine individual and mutual goals and how you may work on them as a team. This exercise will improve your understanding of your marriage and give you a sense of accomplishment after you achieve those goals.

• Build a Closer Marriage Relationship

Marriage therapy helps spouses improve their communication and build a closer marriage relationship. Under the guidance of a marriage counselor, you as a couple will work towards building a deeper and healthier emotional connection, developing a sense of intimacy and closeness that might have faded away over time.

In addition, counseling facilitates exploring one another’s emotional desires and needs, fostering a healthier marriage relationship. During therapy sessions, couples express their deepest vulnerabilities, fears, and longings openly. This process enables spouses to understand one another’s emotional world, fostering compassion and empathy.

 

The bottom line is that finding common ground as a couple doesn’t have to be complicated. With marriage counseling, you will take your first step towards achieving a healthier relationship. 

So, whether you want to deal with diverse cultural backgrounds, resentment, or loneliness, it is important to choose the right counselor to meet your counseling needs as a couple.