While the divorce rate is falling in the US, it’s not non-existent. For every 1,000 people, approximately 2.9 of them will get divorced.
But how do you know when it’s time to seek couple counseling?
For starters, are you and your partner arguing more? Are you spending less time apart, and do you feel further and further from one another each day?
If so, you may need relationship counseling. If you’re unsure of where to start, then this article is for you. Keep reading as we delve into the 10 signs you need couples therapy.
1. Constant Fighting
If you and your partner fight all day and all night long, then chances are you need couples therapy. While some fighting is healthy in a relationship, too much fighting can be toxic.
Fighting can clear the air and even strengthen your bond when done in a controlled environment. This means no cursing or yelling and expecting each other’s thoughts and feelings
2. Denying There’s a Problem
Another sign you may need couples therapy is if you’re denying anything is wrong within your relationship. Many couples will deny having issues, sweeping them under the rug. They stay together for the wrong reasons, such as shared finances or common friends.
Luckily, a licensed couples therapist can help you identify the issues within your relationship and create a plan to help you work through those problems.
3. Unresolved Issues
Are you constantly bickering about the same thing, over and over again? This may be a sign that relationship counseling is needed. Constantly reminding your partner to take out the trash or to fold the laundry may be a sign of something bigger.
Are you really upset about the overflowing garbage bin, or is something else bothering you? A couples therapist can help you get to the root of the problem, identifying what bothers you about your partner.
You may feel resentment if one person takes on the lion’s share of chores in the house, and couples therapy such as Naya Clinics can help you identify it.
4. Major Life Changes
Not every couple needs counseling because of issues within their relationship. Sometimes preemptive counseling is an excellent way to keep ahead of prospective problems.
If you’re planning a move, for example, the stress may put an undo strain on your relationship, especially if the move is far from family and friends. Beginning couples therapy is an excellent way to work through your major life changes, adopting tools necessary to handle whatever arises.
5. You Speak Different Love Languages…In Bed
Sex drive plays a major role in any relationship. Sex can strengthen an emotional bond and signify commitment. When one partner loses interest in sex, it can cause issues within the relationship that require counseling.
A couple’s sex life can make or break a relationship, so consulting a therapist can help you work through intimacy issues.
6. Financial Issues
Roughly 1/3 of adults in a relationship report that finance is a major source of stress in a relationship. One partner may be more prudent with finances while the other one wants to spend.
This can lead to tension in a relationship, and couples therapy is an excellent way to tackle those issues.
Another way finances impact a relationship is when one partner earns more money than the other. This can lead to feelings of resentment therapy can help.
7. Different Expectations
It’s completely understandable for partners to have different expectations in the relationship. One partner may want marriage and children, and the other one may not. Sometimes a compromise can be reached, and other times it can’t.
A couples therapist can help you work past these issues and determine if the relationship is salvageable or not.
8. Resentment
Do you resent your partner? When you see them, are you filled with a sense of hostility? If so, then you may need relationship counseling.
Resentment can stem from previous arguments that were never properly addressed. Over time, these feelings of resentment can tarnish your relationship and impact future arguments and conversations, especially if you or your partner bring up past arguments.
9. Secrets
If you or your partner is keeping secrets from the other one, then it’s time to see a relationship counselor. Secrets can lead to hurt feelings, or worse. If you’re doing or saying things you don’t want your partner to know about, then it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate your relationship with the help of a professional.
Secrets can range from hidden finances to secret friendships and meetings. Either way, trust is key in a relationship, and secrets are an easy way to break that trust.
10. Cheating
If you or your partner has cheated or is planning on straying from the relationship, a counselor should be consulted for professional assistance. A couples therapist can help you work through the source of infidelity and solutions to avoid this from happening in the first place.
What are you or your partner hoping to gain from an affair? What aspects of your relationship are missing that you need to seek from an outside source? A therapist should be able to help you through this.
Invest In Couple Counseling
If you’re invested in making your relationship work, then you should invest in couple counseling. Remember to talk to a trusted relationship counselor and be honest about what works and what doesn’t work in your relationship.
Be open and willing to communicate. And remember that there’s help, no matter what challenges or obstacles you and your partner have to overcome.
If you enjoyed reading about the couple counseling experience and signs you might need it, then be sure to check out the rest of our site for more amazing content.
