Finding your other half is most people’s aspirations – it is part of the cycle of life to find the one you are meant to love for the rest of your days. However, unlike most romantic movies and novels portray, being in a healthy relationship is far from ending at the ‘happily ever after’. Being in a committed relationship can be difficult, and the couple may face issues, despite truly loving one another.
Although you can attempt to talk to your other half and resolve issues, this is not always the solution, particularly if both of you fail to see each other’s perspectives. Sometimes having the help of a professional, such as a relationship counselor, can be the solution to help you and your partner start making amends to fix the issues in your relationship.
In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of relationship counseling, so that you and your partner can work towards your happy ending.
Pros of Relationship Counseling
Provides a Safe Environment
Communication is key in a relationship. If you have issues, the only way to resolve them is by talking to your partner about your concerns. It can be difficult to do this, depending on the type of relationship you have, as emotions play a significant role in these discussions. A single attempt to have a discussion with your partner can turn into an intense argument, which will only make things worse. Attending couples counseling will provide you with a safe environment for you and your other half to discuss issues and explore your relationship. This experience will also provide you with the skills needed to have better discussions outside of therapy as well.
Fresh Perspective
When you are in a relationship, it can be easy for you to lose perspective of what the issues are. For example, your partner may be constantly arguing about small things, however, there may be a bigger unresolved issue at hand that is causing such friction between you two. If you cannot identify the problem, you are unlikely to know how to find an effective solution. Professional therapies are trained and experienced in supporting couples to take a step back and looking at their relationship from a different perspective. This will make you both gain a different view on what the issues are and work together to find ways to resolve them.
Bring Joy
Evidently, being in an unhappy relationship can have a great negative impact on individuals and affect all other aspects of their life. If you and your partner are unhappy, it may be difficult for you to be positive overall. All relationships have their ups and downs, particularly when you have been together for some time. It is vital to understand that there is no such thing as a perfect relationship or a perfect partner and that it takes time and effort to ensure that both people in the relationship feel loved, valued, and cared about. A counselor can help you both find ways to be your best version as a partner and bring joy to the relationship.
Give You Direction
People get into relationships for different reasons and they may expect and want different things from their partner. Not many people think about what they actually want or what they are willing to give, and this is one of the reasons relationships do not last. By attending counseling with your partner, you can both discuss what your plan is for the relationship and how you envision your future together. This gives you both a sense of direction and that you are together on the journey.
Cons of Relationship Counseling
Can Be Expensive
As you can imagine, counseling can be costly. But this should be seen as an investment as it can significantly improve your relationship with your partner. When it comes to money, it's about thinking about the value of what you will be getting. For this reason, you must ensure you choose a good counselor. The experts at energeticsinstitute.com.au/relationship-counselling-perth advise that a good couples counselor will have specific qualifications, training, and experience in order to be able to help you. Investing in counseling could make the difference between being in a happy relationship or ending up single.
You Must Be Committed
It can be difficult to listen to a third party tell you about you and your relationship. However, it is important to remember that this is a professional with experience and training in the area, therefore they will know a thing or two about helping you and making your situation better. Going to counseling entails more than attending the sessions and listening to the therapist – you must be committed to this and change your behavior outside of the therapy room as well.
You Need To Take Responsibility
You may believe that you are the unhappy one in the relationship and that your partner is doing enough to make you happy, therefore you suggest couples therapy. One of the downsides of couples counseling may be that you start realizing that your partner is not entirely at fault, requiring you to take responsibility. This is not a nice feeling, but something that needs to be done if you want to see an improvement in the relationship.
When facing issues in your relationship it is a good idea to consult with a relationship counselor. As discussed above, there are pros and cons to this, therefore make sure you are aware of what this entails before you make a final decision.
