How to Convince your Partner to go to Couples Counselling.

Have you been thinking of couples therapy but putting it off? Couples counselling unfortunately carries a stigma in our society. It can sometimes be associated with failure to succeed in maintaining a good relationship. It can also be intimidating because you or your partner don’t know what to expect. Because couples counselling is more effective when one has an open mind to it, overcoming this stigma is important.

It is essential that you let your partner know that therapy is a safe and intentional space where you work through your issues and move towards a better future. Unlike family members who have a tendency to take sides during times of frustration, the goal of a good couple’s counsellor is to help illuminate both sides of a situation and hear from both parties without judgment. 

In order to convince your partner to go to couple’s counselling, it is important for you to point out the many benefits it has for your relationship. One of the benefits is that it can help improve communication, where the therapist encourages you to be more receptive to each other’s words, feelings and thoughts and express your emotions in a healthy way. Building your communication skills with your partner can help you resolve conflicts as they happen. A couple’s counselor can teach you conflict resolution techniques that you can practice in the safe environment of couples therapy, which you can then apply to your relationship. 

A common problem between partners is the lack of appreciation for each other’s efforts. Couples counselling can help lead you to a better appreciation between you and your partner by helping you identify the effort that either of you exert, thereby helping you to become more appreciative of the determination it takes to make the relationship work. 

It is also important that you let your partner know that couples counselling can be a preventative measure. It can give you the tools for the proper maintenance of your  relationship so problematic patterns do not develop. It can also help you find ways to give emotional support to your partner so you can avoid bigger problems later on.