Couples therapy is a type of psychotherapy in which a therapisthelps two people involved in a romantic relationship gain insight into their relationship, resolve conflict, and improve relationship satisfaction throughvarious therapeutic sessions. However, the couples’ therapists focus on a specific problem. In addition, they remain solution-focused during the sessions, and have clear treatment objectives. The most common problems between couples include issues regarding money, parenting, sex, infidelity and in-laws, chronic health issues, infertility, gambling, substance abuse, emotional distance, and frequent conflict.
Couples therapy therapist requirements-
Anyone having a keen interest in relationship matters and one who is ready to solve such issues of other couples can be a couple therapist. One has to go through a different course pattern and through arduous credentialing and licensing processes to qualify as a couples’ therapist. Moreover, they also need to learn about the recent developments in the field of therapy. One can only stay in this profession if he or she is determined to see couples happy and is ready to solve their issues- helping them to live a beautiful and enlightened life, without getting mad at them.
Procedure of couples’ therapy-
1. Couples therapy begins with a couple that made an appointment with the therapist regarding their relationship problem.
2. The therapist inquires about the history of the patient including their origin, family, culture, religion, kids etc.
3. The first few sessions involve encountering theproblem of the couple. This remains the focus of the treatment in future.
4. The therapist, after listening to the problem, charts out treatment objectives and goals, and plans a treatment procedure.
5. During the treatment, the therapist helps in gaining insight back into the relationship by making the couple understand their importance in each other’s lives.
6. The therapists make the couples interact so that they can understand the cause of the problem and can work on that further during the treatment process.
7. Assignments are assigned to couples in which they have to apply their skills, have to recall the treatment procedure, and complete the assignment.
8. These help in improving relationships, solving problems, fostering better communication with an increase in emotional expression inan effective way.
Basic principles of couples’ therapy- Couples therapy helps in building a healthy relationship between the couple through maintaining a constant positive attitude. Following are some of the principles of couples’ therapy that help in improving therelationship of couples:
1. Changed relationship views.
2. Modification in behavior.
3. Less emotional avoidance
4. Improvement in communication
5. Provides strength.
6. Helps in sharing each other’s emotions
7. Betters chances for survival of the relationship
Benefits of couples’ therapy-
After many different types of sessions depending upon the problem of the couple, couple therapy offers few benefits. Due to these benefits,couples who are failing at their relationships seek thehelp of a couple therapists in order to save their relationship and to gain insight into life.
1. Better and deeper communication and connection
2. Enhanced physical and emotional intimacy and love
3. Greater trust
4. Greater healing