What Can Couples Counseling Help With?

This blog answers the question: what can couples counseling help with? You may feel that your relationship is in a rocky place right now. Even after trying to work things out and talk to each other, you can’t seem to see eye to eye. 

 

You aren’t wanting to end the relationship, but it’s coming to a point where that feels like your only option. You and your partner have tried to communicate about issues, but it always ends up feeling unresolved.

 

While couples therapy can be considered a last ditch effort to repair a relationship, you can start it for other reasons. You don’t need to have significant issues in a relationship to start couples counseling. As long as both you and your partner are 100% invested in the process, you can benefit greatly.

 

Some issues couples counseling helps with includes: 1) Infidelity. 2) Communication issues. 3) Trust issues. 4) Understanding each other better. There are just several things in an array of issues you and your partner can address in session.

 

Couples counseling in Simi Valley, CA works to ensure all partners feel supported in session. Make sure to read our blog on Reasons to Start Couples Therapy.

 

What Can Couples Counseling Help With?: Infidelity

Infidelity, or cheating, is the act of being unfaithful to a partner or spouse. It typically involves sexual or romantic relations with an outside person.

 

This can be in-person or virtually, over the phone, video chat, or through websites. By many, flirting, having inappropriate conversations, or emotional relationships are considered cheating as well.

 

You may have been found out through a confession, or indirectly. That could look like finding out through other people, seeing things on their phone, or stumbling directly into it. The truth usually comes to light one way or another.

 

This can be an incredibly hurtful thing to experience. There may be lots of difficult feelings, such as anger, betrayal, shame, sadness, confusion, and more. Both of you may feel a combination of these.

 

There are usually explanations behind why someone cheats in a relationship.

 

As this is a sensitive topic for both partners, it can be difficult to resolve alone. You may feel that the partner who cheated is in no place to feel heartbroken or sad.

 

In reverse, the partner who cheated wants to explain themselves and their actions to you. They may realize that this was a mistake, and they want to make it up to you. Working with a couples therapist helps navigate this difficult conversation.

 

Marriage counseling in Simi Valley is a no-judgment zone for partners, where the therapists do not take sides. Check out our blog on How to Find a Marriage Therapist!

 

What Can Couples Counseling Help With?: Communication Issues

Communication issues can be a huge burden to a relationship. If you cannot properly communicate with one another, issues will be difficult to resolve. You and your partner may mesh well in every other way, except for communication styles.

 

When it comes to difficult conversations, you both have your own unique communication style. For example, let’s say there is dissatisfaction with a split effort for household chores. This conversation instantly overwhelms one partner, and it never really gets touched upon.

 

There may be issues in communicating feelings. This also includes how you emotionally regulate yourself in general. However, with your partner, you just can’t seem to get the words out. You struggle to understand or label thoughts and feelings. This results in unnecessary, petty arguments.

 

From there, you and your partner can be left feeling stuck, stubborn, or overall upset. You may need to take a step back to view this as you two together against this issue, and not against each other. It can be hard to let go of feeling right, and just working as a team to improve communication.

 

Couples therapy in Simi Valley provides you and your partner with tools to strengthen your own individual communication skills, as well as your skills together. Make sure to read our blog on Common Communication Problems in Relationships.

 

What Can Couples Counseling Help With?: Trust Issues

There may be trust issues getting in the way of your relationship being successful or enjoyable. This could look like issues coming from a past relationship you had, where your partner was engaging in cheating behaviors. This causes you to develop insecurities, and feel a need to gain greater control over people or situations. 

 

With your current partner now, you feel increasingly worried or paranoid about them doing the same thing. Therefore, you feel the need to ask to go through their phone, social media, or constantly seek reassurance that they’re being faithful. This happens without your current partner showing any reason for you to have a lack of trust in them.

 

There may also be trust issues from anticipated worries for future situations – things that have not yet happened yet. This could look like taking on certain responsibilities, such as caring for pets, running an errand, etc. You may have a lack of faith that your partner is capable of doing some things.

 

Couples counseling in Simi Valley, CA helps you understand the root cause of your trust issues; whether with your partner or if they came from elsewhere. Make sure to read our blog on Taking Responsibility for Your Mental Health!

 

What Can Couples Counseling Help With?: Understanding Each Other Better

You may start couples counseling simply wanting to understand each other better – after your first few dates, of course. It could be that you or your partner have unresolved past trauma, whether from a past relationship or something else. Overall, you want to better know and understand their beautiful mind.

 

The past trauma could be the reason for a miscommunication or misunderstanding. This could look like you or your partner being triggered by something of the past. It may be a sensitive topic that you want to discuss in a safe space such as a therapist’s office.

 

You may want to learn about each other’s love languages, or how to meet each other’s needs. This looks like getting to know what makes your partner feel loved, appreciated, or heard. Being able to establish this understanding early on can have many benefits for the relationship.

 

Couples counseling can also provide you and your partner with a space to understand each other’s individual stories. This looks like how a childhood upbringing or past relationships has contributed to them in the current day. Maybe you want to understand their perception of themselves, or of you. Either way, you can do all of this and more in session.

 

You and your partner want to be in a happy and healthy relationship together. With some support from a couples therapist, you can achieve that goal and be better, together.

 

In-person therapy in Simi Valley is ideal for those seeking a separate, safe space from their home. Check out our blog on Online Therapy or In Office Therapy to understand what format is best for you. Another great blog to read is ours on if you need Therapy or Medication to address your issues, as well as information on Therapy: Where to Start.

 

By seeking out support, you can begin your journey to feeling relief. You don’t have to go through finding the right level of support alone, either.

 

Consider calling our therapy group at (805) 774-1506 for a free consultation on how you or a loved one can get started today!

 

Seek out a validating, safe environment with us today. We will help you get to where you want to be. Our therapists provide trauma therapy, teen therapy, individual adult therapy, LGBTQIA+ therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, family therapy, and more in-office in Simi Valley, CA.