Couples Therapy: 7 Impactful Benefits of Strengthening Your Relationship

Introduction

As humans, we always seek connections. Each of us is a unique and complex ecosystem of traits and experiences that have shaped us. So when different kinds of personalities come together, it can bring a potential for conflicts and misunderstandings along with tremendous growth. Couples therapy is an effective way to navigate these ups and downs of relationships, especially in romantic partnerships.

Individual differences, along with differences in upbringing, cultural backgrounds, and societal norms, create challenges within relationships. On top of this, the quality of mental health of a person can also affect how they show up and deal with conflict in relationships. Couples therapy provides a neutral space for partners to open up, explore, and work on resolving these issues.

In this blog, we’ll discuss what couples therapy is, who can benefit from it, how it works, and its effectiveness.

What is Couples Therapy?

Couples therapy is a form of psychotherapy focused on helping you improve your relationship with your partner. 

Do You Need Couples Therapy?

 Answer the following questions honestly to yourself to find out.

• Do you often have difficulty expressing your feelings?
• Do you feel you are unheard or unvalued in your relationship?
• Do you regularly have arguments with your partner over the same issues?
• Have you experienced dishonesty or cheating within your relationship?
• Are you lacking intimacy and emotional connection with your partner?
• Are you and your partner not on the same page about your goals and values?
• Are you finding it difficult to process a major life transition together?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, you may benefit from going to couples therapy. The main objectives of couples therapy are to improve communication between partners, resolve conflicts by viewing the issues more objectively and decreasing dysfunctional behavior, build trust in each other, increase empathy, and address individual issues, if any. [1]

Types of Couples Therapy

Based on what stage you are in your relationship and the kind of challenges you’re facing, a therapist will choose a type of couples therapy that best works for you and your partner. Following are the different approaches to couples therapy: [2]

• Emotionally focused therapy (EFT): This is the most researched and effective short-term therapy option for couples. The aim is to improve the attachment and bonding between partners.
• Gottman method: This method is developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. It focuses on equipping you with problem-solving skills to reduce conflicts and improve the level of respect and intimacy in the relationship.
• Imago relationship therapy (IRT): This approach focuses on exploring childhood experiences and trauma that have shaped you and uncovering how they influence your relationship. IRT is helpful in deepening the connection between partners.
• Narrative therapy: We have narratives about every aspect of life, and as individuals, partners may have different narratives during conflicts. Hence, this approach focuses on identifying the flaws in our narratives and creating a healthy and all-encompassing narrative about your partner or a situation.
• Solution-focused therapy: This is a short-term, goal-oriented therapy option that helps couples find solutions in the present rather than dwell on the past.

Who Needs Couples Therapy?

Any two adults who are experiencing conflicts in their relationship can opt for couples therapy to seek resolution and improve their relationship. Couples who can benefit the most from therapy are:

• Couples from different cultural backgrounds
• Couples planning to get married, couples with children, or those planning to start a family
• Couples experiencing challenges related to communication, infidelity, or finances
• Couples in a long-distance relationship
• LGBTQ+ couples who must navigate unique societal challenges

What Can Couples Therapy Help With- 7 Benefits 

Aspects of your relationship that couples therapy can help with are:

1. Understanding the relationship dynamic: Examining the roles you and your partner play, the expectations you have from each other, your beliefs and values, common points of disagreement, etc.
2. Finances: Couples therapy can promote an open discussion around money and spending habits, income and managing finances collaboratively, etc., to avoid financial stress from being a source of conflict in the relationship.
3. Improving communication: Learning how to interact in a clear, non-violent way can help reduce conflicts.
4. Parenting and family responsibilities: Learning co-parenting strategies and managing your family while strengthening your relationship as a couple.
5. Rebuilding trust and intimacy: If you have experienced infidelity, it is important to utilize the safe space provided in couples therapy to share your feelings and needs, understand the whys of what happened, and work on them.
6. Health issues: Physical or mental health illnesses can put immense stress on relationships. Couples therapy can help work through that.
7. Navigating major life transitions and loss: Both bring huge changes in life that need to be processed and adapted to.

Efficacy of Couples Therapy

Couples therapy is effective in understanding each other better, identifying the source of and resolving conflicts, strengthening your friendship, and improving the overall health of your relationship.

A 2022 study conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT). A total of 20 studies were included in this analysis, involving 332 couples. The study found 70% of couples to be symptom-free at the end of EFT treatment and that greater adherence to the EFT model by therapists led to better outcomes for couples. [3]

Another 2018 study tested the effect of Gottman couple therapy on reducing marital burnout and improving conflict resolution styles among 18 couples. Before receiving therapy, these couples scored high on the Pines Couple Burnout Measure and low in constructive conflict resolution. After ten weekly sessions of Gottman therapy lasting 120 minutes each, this method was found effective in reducing marital burnout and shifting conflict resolution styles from destructive to constructive. [4]

Conclusion

Differences in upbringing, background, and personalities, as well as societal expectations, can result in challenges for romantic partners. It is normal for couples to experience conflict, and couples therapy is an effective option for resolution and strengthening the relationship. EFT, the Gottman method, IRT, narrative therapy, and solution-focused therapy are common techniques used in couples therapy. Based on the stage of your relationship and the challenges you are facing, a therapist will adopt an approach that best suits your needs. If you are looking for a safe and neutral space to strengthen your relationship with your partner, book a session with one of our experts on United We Care.

References

[1] L. A. Benson, M. M. McGinn, and A. Christensen, “Common Principles of Couple Therapy,” Behavior Therapy, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 25-35, 2012. [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2010.12.009. Accessed: Dec. 29, 2023.

[2] Jay Lebow, Douglas K. Snyder, “Clinical handbook of couple therapy” [Online]. Available: https://search.worldcat.org/title/1292393015. Accessed: Dec. 29, 2023.

[3] Spengler, Paul M.; Lee, Nicholas A.; Wiebe, Stephanie A.; Wittenborn, Andrea K., “A comprehensive meta-analysis on the efficacy of emotionally focused couple therapy.” in Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Apdh%3A13%3A414157/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Apdh%3A2023-02978-001&crl=c. Accessed: Dec. 29, 2023.

[4] Havaasi, Nahid; Kaar, Kianoush Zahra; MohsenZadeh, Farshaad, “Compare the efficacy of emotion focused couple therapy and Gottman couple therapy method in marital burnout and changing conflict resolution styles.” in Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 15, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A13%3A11692509/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A127765770&crl=c. Accessed: Dec. 29, 2023.