Marriage counseling is also referred to as couples therapy or marital therapy. It is a professionally offered service aimed at helping partners sustain and improve the quality of their relationships. The focus is to address issues like helplessness, lack of emotional engagement or attachment, and disagreements. It also deals with the inability to agree, which is experienced by both parties. This therapy enables them to accept, help each other, and rebuild confidence once lost.
Counseling can be beneficial whether there is a particular challenge being faced by the couple or there have been challenges that have persisted. It is a safe space where both partners are able to communicate themselves without any fear of being judged.
Marriage therapy is done through a series of sessions involving both individuals and a licensed practitioner. The aim is to address the underlying problems causing issues in the marriage. Further, it aids the opposing parties in finding a solution collaboratively.
Tactics, references, and exercises are geared toward helping people understand the situation. These consist of specific types of communication, conflict management, and emotions associated with managing practices. Generally, appointments are 45 to 60 minutes in duration, and these also depend on the extent of the issues. The following are the common approaches:
Family problems are frequent causes cited by couples seeking marriage counseling. Here are some of the most common family-related challenges couples face:
Financial Stress: One significant problem area is related to finances. Conflicts around expenditure, frugality, or debt management can result in disputes on a daily basis.
In-Laws and Extended Family Pressure: In some instances, tension can be created by the intrusion of in-laws or the broader family setup. Thus, a person experiences unwanted loyalty to family versus the relationship.
Work-Life Imbalance: Balancing work, house chores, and family responsibilities can be stressful, to say the least. Both parties often end up feeling burned out; hence, they may not be able to spare personal time for each other.
Parenting Disagreements: How many times have we heard couples argue about how to go about raising their children, be it regarding punishment methods or educating them? Naturally, some of these domestic wars can be very irritating and weaken the bond.
Intimacy is, without a doubt, the glue in any relationship. Lack of intimacy can result in both psychological disconnection and frustration. A lot of intimacy issues can be found in someone’s daily life. Stress, health issues, or abuse are among the several that can contribute to it. Some of the common intimacy issues couples face include:
Past Trauma: Other relationships that are there, or were in the past, and still affect the couple's intimacy. Many of these conflicts remain buried and unhealed and need much effort to resolve.
Stress and Fatigue: Intimacy can be compromised by external factors like work, children, financial stress, etc. When one or both of the partners is worried, likely, they are emotionally or physically too drained to engage in intimacy.
Sexual Disconnection: Reduction of physical affection or sexual contact may cause situations of rejection and loneliness. This is an issue that is usually a result of emotional distance or lack of communication concerning one’s feelings or needs.
Emotional Intimacy Problems: At times, the issue is not so much as whether or not the partners are physically present. Rather, it is about whether the two are psychologically farther apart from each other. Partners can feel that they are not heard, understood, or loved in an emotional sense.
Settling conflicts is part and parcel of any relationship. However, one should know when it is time to consult a relationship expert. These are:
Trust Issues: If trust has been offended, either in the things of infidelity or through lying, a therapist will work to rebuild this trust.
Emotional Distance: If the couple has an emotional void that seems to be widening, seeking therapy can help in bridging this void.
Loss of Intimacy: When the couple no longer shares emotional or physical intimacy, marriage therapy may assist them in rekindling their relationship.
Struggling with Parenting: Parenting disputes almost always require an outsider's help, as parents often argue and find it difficult to see each other's point of view.
Lack of Communication: Throughout their history, communication breakdown has been the biggest problem that two partners face. A therapist can help improve communication.
Frequent Arguments: If you find yourself scanning the calendar for marriage counselling after an unnecessary amount of time because of the same recurring fights, it may be beneficial to book one now.
There are many advantages associated with marriage counselling. Many of them aimed at improving the relationship and the well-being of the partners in question. A few key benefits comprise:
Stronger Partnership: Struggles that couples face in unison make them bond more, giving them a firm base that is nearly unbreakable.
Better Emotional Connection: Therapeutic processes help partners regain their bond, which might have been lost due to emotional deprivation over time.
Improved Communication: One of the main goals of therapy is to help partners communicate better, listen to each other, and express feelings in healthy ways.
Enhanced Intimacy: Marriage counseling frequently also enhances mutual affection, so helping people with previous issues to continue to be together is even better.
Conflict Resolution Skills: Counselling teaches couples how to manage and resolve conflicts productively without resorting to arguments or resentment.
Restored Trust: When trust has been shattered, psychotherapy offers the elements that, when practised, trust can be regained through open and honest conversations.
Dr. Kavitha Lakshmi Easwaran,focusses on high-risk pregnancy, normal delivery, C-section delivery, Pregnancy Induced diabetes, hypertension , anemia Mensuration, PCOD PCOS, Menopause, cervical screening, Gyna surgeries - Fibroid treatment, Laparoscopy - etc.
