Emotionally-Focused Therapy for couples has a success rate of around 75%.
However, many still ask the question “does couples therapy work”? If you are willing to put in the time and effort to fix your relationship, the answer is most likely, yes.
In this article, we’ll look at a few truths about couples therapy that you will want to understand before you see a therapist. Let’s get started.
1. What Can I Expect From Therapy?
In your first therapy session, you will be talking about your relationship. This will include the highs and the lows, how you met, and any shared hobbies.
During this session, your therapist is simply getting to know you. So, don’t feel disheartened if you don’t learn anything new.
Next up, you’ll really dig deep and figure out what your biggest problem is. Do you have the same arguments all the time? Are you always bickering? Do you never have sex anymore?
Over time, your therapist will help you come up with aims for your therapy. These could be anything from reducing how viciously you argue to falling in love again.
Alternatively, you might come to terms with the fact that this relationship simply isn’t right for you anymore and break up feeling understood and content to let go.
2. Start Therapy Early
If you feel that you and your partner aren’t communicating well anymore, this is a good time to see a therapist. Don’t wait for someone to cheat or for the feelings of hatred to bubble up.
Often, couples find it more difficult to come to therapy than individuals. But, as soon as you feel that there is something wrong in your relationship, speak to your partner about counseling.
If you start early, you will learn ways to communicate effectively, how to really listen to the other person’s viewpoint, and hopefully avoid any relationship breakdowns.
However, it’s thought that couples struggle in their relationships for around half a decade before reaching out to a therapist.
3. Does Couples Therapy Work?
During therapy, you will learn how to communicate, how to forgive, how to manage your stress, how be trusting and honest and how to be selfless.
With these new skills up your sleeve, you’ll find it a lot easier to effectively navigate your relationship.
For individuals, therapy has been found to be as effective as antidepressants in treating depression and anxiety. Furthermore, over half the patients who receive psychological therapy recover.
As we’ve seen, this figure increases to around 75% for certain types of couples therapy. But, make sure you find a therapist who you feel comfortable talking to in order to get the most out of your sessions.
Don’t Avoid Going to Couples Therapy
If you believe that couples therapy could work for you, then don’t delay finding a therapist. You may be surprised by how much your relationship improves.
When we ask the question, does couples therapy work? The answer is usually yes for most couples.
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