Couples Therapy

What is Couples Therapy?

Couples therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to work with partners at the same time, in the same space. In couples therapy, both parties attend weekly or biweekly sessions with a trained therapist in an effort to improve or maintain their relationship. A therapist will work with both partners to help express their feelings, discuss issues, and resolve conflicts. This can be beneficial for couples having relationship difficulties ranging from feelings of disconnection to issues related to sex, an affair, or conflicts due to external stressors. However, couples therapy can also be beneficial for partners simply looking to strengthen their connection and help increase respect, affection, and intimacy. 

Common Topics Addressed in Couples Therapy:

  • Communication

  • Emotional intimacy 

  • Goal setting

  • Conflict resolution

  • Love languages

  • Beliefs 

  • Values

  • Finances

  • Roles and responsibilities

  • Infidelity 

  • Time spent together

  • Parenting Techniques 

  • Familial relationships

  • Sex and intimacy 

  • External stressors

  • Health concerns 

  • And so much more!

Types of Couples Therapy

  • The Gottman Method: This is one of the most popular forms of couples therapy utilized today. It is based on the research of patterns of behavior in successful and unsuccessful relationships. This method involves focusing on the destructive behaviors of criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling and how to equip the couple with healthier problem-solving skills, effective communication, and ways to get each partner’s needs met. 

  • Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy: This therapy modality targets identifying maladaptive thought patterns that negatively influence the behavior of each partner and challenging these thought patterns to help improve relationship quality and communication, as well as reduce frequent misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

  • Psychodynamic Couples Therapy: Psychodynamic therapy explores the connection between the couple’s past experiences and their current mentalities and how their mindsets affect their relationship.

  • Behavioral Couples Therapy: Behavioral therapy is designed to shape the couple’s behavior by reinforcing positive behaviors that nurture stability and discouraging behaviors that foster negativity. 

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy: This therapy aims to improve a couple’s relationship by improving the attachment, emotional bond, and physical bond within the partnership. This method will help the couple understand their feelings of disconnection and how to alter the patterns that led to them. 

Benefits of Couples Therapy

As mentioned, couples therapy can address a multitude of topics. However, the most common benefits seen within couples therapy is improving communication skills, further understanding one another, identifying relationship concerns, resolving conflicts, strengthening attachment, reducing dysfunctional behavior, improving relationship satisfaction, and learning skills. If you believe that your relationship would benefit from couples therapy, first discuss it with your partner and see if they are receptive to the idea and explain why it is important to you. If this is something both you and your partner are interested in, seek out a licensed mental health practitioner to begin!