Marriage or couples counseling. Could the time be right? A few weekends ago, my husband and I went on a “semi-date night’ for Valentine’s Day. Our youngest child tagged along, but because we didn’t have all of the children, we called it a “semi-date night.” As we sat at our table and glanced around the restaurant, I took note of the different couples in the restaurant.
There was the young couple, all dressed up. Both were looking at their phones but laughing and chatting together. Another couple, with a young child, was getting to clearly enjoy some one on one conversation – while the child watched a video on a device and happily ate her french fries. Additionally, there was a group of college students at another table. Based on the flirting and side hugging at every opportunity, there was clearly a couple at this table of young adults.
Also, there was also an older couple who seemed very content to eat their dinner together quietly. Just with the occasional sentence or two thrown into their comfortable silence. All of these couples were unique. I wondered about their stories. Each couple was in a different phase of life and each in a unique set of circumstances.
Marriages and romantic relationships can be wonderful. But they are also filled with challenges. Successful relationships take a lot of work. And during hard times, like the ones we find ourselves in, that work can feel impossible and daunting.
How has COVID affected relationships?
The COVID pandemic has shaken up our society, and many of us are feeling worn down and weary. I would definitely consider this time period in history as one that is considered “hard.” As we as individuals struggle to cope with change and loss, our relationships also begin to suffer. When our tank is empty and drained, we have very little to give out and invest in others. Including our significant other.
Could Marriage or Couples Counseling be right for you?
In the past few months, we have seen more and more couples call our office and reach out for help. These couples are feeling burnt out, weary, and disconnected. They are feeling misunderstood and underappreciated. The hardships of life are draining their relationships and individuals feel they are unable to meet the needs of their partner or spouse. Many couples are having higher conflict than normal. Other couples just feel checked out and like they are simply co-existing. Other couples are dealing with major problems that they feel they cannot resolve on their own. These can include dealing with loss and grief, infidelity, commitment or trust issues. There are also parenting issues or differences in life goals. Perhaps you and your spouse or partner are doing “fine,” but you just want your relationship to be the best it can be.
Reaching Out for Help
If you can relate with any of the above scenarios, we would encourage you to reach out for couples counseling. Many couples are embarrassed to reach out for help when times get tough. However, seeking counseling for your relationship is not a sign of weakness or a sign that the relationship is a failure. It’s the opposite. It’s a sign that your relationship is important to you and worth putting in the effort to improve. You don’t even have to wait until your relationship is in crisis to reach out and benefit from couples counseling.
What does Marriage/Couples Counseling entail?
As with individual counseling, marriage or couples counseling challenges both you and your partner. We ask you to persevere through the tough moments to better yourself and your relationship. The therapists at Waters Edge Counseling will teach you simple and effective strategies that you and your partner can use at home to continue the healing and progress you will begin in therapy sessions. Having these tools and strategies will be a huge asset to your relationship. Even after therapy ends. Most couples are seeing significant improvement in their communication and connection after just 6-8 sessions.
We all want our relationships to be sources of compassion, understanding, and fulfillment. Not sources of stress or pain. Our therapists are available to help you and your partner discern where issues may be arising, while also reminding you of what is working in your relationship. You and your partner don’t have to continue feeling like you’re barely hanging on by a thread. We are here to help you have a solid and fulfilling relationship, where each partner is valued and understood.
Reach out to our therapists for help
If you are trying to decide if couples counseling is something that you and your spouse or partner would benefit from, please reach out to us. Our therapists offer both virtual and in-person sessions. We also have appointments available during the evening hours and on weekends and a really easy Online Scheduling feature. Give us a call at 912-319-5552. We are here for you!