What will we do in Couples Therapy sessions?
As couples counselors, we have lots of couples say, “I’ve never done couples therapy before. I don’t know what to expect.” It creates a lot of anxiety when you don’t know what’s coming.
You may worry that things will get worse. You may worry that your partner will say things that are really hard to hear or spell bad news for your relationship. You might be concerned that you will be in therapy forever. You know you don’t want to be blamed for all the problems. You might be concerned that the therapist will tell you that you should divorce or give up on the relationship. Well, we would like to help ease some of your worries about couples counseling.
Here are some things that will happen in Couples Therapy sessions, and some that won’t:
1. We won’t be *finding “The Bad Guy”
No one wants to feel blamed for problems in the relationship and the truth is, they aren’t. Couples get caught in negative patterns where each responds and reacts in ways that perpetuate the problems. Sometimes, partners may come in expecting their therapist to determine who is at fault.
We have never seen a quicker way for someone to call it quits on the therapy (or the relationship) than to feel like their partner blames them and won’t own their part. We will be finding the negative cycle blocking your closeness, and this is our new common enemy.
* “Find the Bad Guy” comes from Sue Johnson’s book Hold Me Tight, based on Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy
2. We won’t let you fight
Couples know how to argue and get stuck in their negative patterns just fine on their own. We don’t want to waste your time, money and hope by letting you argue as usual. We will interrupt you (firmly but politely), slow things down, and help you understand and share your feelings in a way that invites listening, not reactivity or defensiveness.
3. Communication skills are nice, but we won’t be teaching them to you
Most people in struggling relationships know how to communicate just fine. You likely communicate quite well with friends, coworkers, strangers, etc.
So, why do you have a hard time communicating with your partner or spouse? The answer is that you are caught by a negative pattern of reactions, feelings unspoken, and confusing or hidden ways of trying to get your needs met. There’s a lot more going on underneath the words that isn’t being communicated.
In Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, we know that teaching you Communication Skills won’t get to the root of the issues, and won’t fix your problems long-term.
Research of couples arguing shows that people just don’t use intellectual, heady types of communication skills in the heat of an argument. It’s all well and fine to learn them, and you may even improve communication in your easygoing moments.
But, in reality, when you’re upset and you need good communication the most, you react from your gut at lightning speed. You typically don’t stop to think about using “I statements” and reflecting the statements your partner just made.
“But, how will we communicate better and stop arguing all the time if we don’t learn communication skills?”
4. We will figure out the negative communication pattern damaging your relationship, and then we will fix it
We will be looking closely at what’s underneath your arguments and fueling those negative patterns. We will be identifying the blocks getting in the way of sharing those underlying feelings with each other. We will help you practice reaching out to each other with those feelings.
After a while, you will begin to see your negative pattern coming and know how to pull the emergency break and reach out with an olive branch to your partner.
Your relationship is getting better when you have successes staying out of your negative cycle, and especially when you start to see it coming and know how to get out.
We tell couples all the time, “There’s no such thing as a relationship without ruptures. In love, it’s all about your ability to repair from those ruptures.”
5. For a while, you will work really hard and will probably feel exhausted during and after sessions.
Most of the time, it will be well worth it, and maybe the most meaningful thing you have ever done.
The reason couples end up in couples counseling is pretty simple. They aren’t turning to each other and having vulnerable conversations. When you are ready (aka, no longer escalated in arguments), we will be asking you to practice turning to one another coming from your heart.
This softer, more vulnerable sharing can be scary, feel uncomfortable, or be utterly foreign for you. No doubt about it, turning toward vulnerably is hard work. But it is so worth it. Our brains know the difference, and our bodies know the difference. Good couples counseling, like research-based Emotionally Focused Therapy is a deep, bonding experience.
You may be nervous, but starting Couples Therapy may just save your relationship and change your life
Though it’s normal to be a little nervous about starting couples counseling, don’t let worries about the unknown stop you.
Fear of the unknown is temporary, and we can help you with it. Losing the love of your life or hurting in your most important relationship can last a lifetime.
Call us today at 303-513-8975 to start working on your relationship. We are always happy to answer your questions about couples therapy and how we’ll help you with your relationship. Or, schedule your first couples counseling appointment now. Schedule Appointment
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