Couples counseling is one of the healthiest things you can do for your relationship. Whether you’re married, dating, engaged, or in any significant realtionship, couples counseling is a great way to open communication, work through challenges, and create a stronger and more trusting relationship.
As a Long Island psychologist and couples counselor, I have worked with many couples that are trying to find ways to improve their marriage or their relationship. I’ve also found there are a lot of myths about what couples counseling is, as well as the benefits that are connected to it. The following are several myths about couples counseling, followed by the facts.
MYTH: Couples Counseling is Only for Marriages on the Brink of Divorce
FACT: Couples counseling can be used by any couple at any stage in a relationship. It’s great for engaged couples looking to create a stronger marriage, loving couples that find that they’re fighting too often, and even post-divorce couples that want to be more civil and coparent in a healthier way. Couples counseling is primarily about achieving more clarity in significant relationships, and it is useful across a variety of different situations.
MYTH: Couples Counselor’s Take a Man’s/Woman’s Side
FACT: The point of couples counseling on Long Island is not to judge or help any single individual, but to assist the couple. Sometimes guidance will be made that seems to be in favor of a single partner, but generally that is only to open up the door to better understanding between both parties. Qualified couples counselors take no sides and show no biases.
MYTH: Couples Counseling Does/Doesn’t Work
FACT: It’s true – not all relationships can be saved through couples counseling. But that is not necessarily the objective of couples counseling. Couples counseling will often have the goal of improving relationships through better communication and increased trust. However, the ultimate goal is to assist both members of the couple with achieving clarity about what they want from the relationship. Not every couple is meant to be. But if both partner’s put the effort into couples counseling, those that can be saved will be saved, and those that can’t will reach a resolution to dissolve the relationship and work towards a smooth transition to move forward with their lives.
Contact a Long Island Couples Counselor Today
With both Lawrence and Garden City offices, I provide couples counseling services throughout Long Island, and am more than happy to talk to you about what’s involved in the process and what you can expect as you move through with your treatment. Call me today at (516) 732-0273 to find out more about my couples counseling and marriage counseling services, or to schedule an appointment.