Table of Contents
Can couples therapy fix a broken relationship?
Studies show that 75% of relationships are restored with effective therapy sessions. If both parties have made the decision to attend couples counselling to better their relationship then yes it can save the relationship. When the focus of therapy is only on what your partner does, you may feel increasingly hopeless about the relationship and powerless to change it. If you do decide to end your marriage, you will also have lost an important opportunity to learn from this experience and avoid repeating ineffective patterns in the future. They may worry about being judged or ganged up on by the marriage counselor. They may have had unhelpful experiences with past therapy, often counseling that was not evidence-based, or that was conducted by a “couples counselor” with little training in couples counseling — which is unfortunately common. How long does couple’s therapy last? This depends on several factors, including the therapist’s treatment modality, the severity of conflict within the dynamic, and each partner’s readiness for change. It is likely that at minimum, treatment may last 8-10 weeks, however this is highly variable. Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) or Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCS) are also typically not qualified to provide couples therapy. Only marriage and family therapists have specialized education, training and experience in helping couples.
Is couples therapy worth it if you’re not married?
Leviton, MA, LMFT: Couples therapy is not synonymous with marriage counseling. Couples therapy is appropriate for any two adults who are having excessive conflict in their relationship. You can enter into therapy regardless of your living arrangements, or how long you have been together, or your sexual orientation. Couples Counseling Statistics Currently, couples counseling has a success rate of roughly 70 percent. About 80 percent of therapists in private practice offer couples therapy. Nearly 50 percent of married couples have gone to marriage counseling. You can’t force someone to go to therapy, but you can see if they’re willing to try it. If your partner is reluctant, see if they’ll compromise and try just a few sessions — with the agreement that they can end it at any time. The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists reports an overall success rate of 98%. The success of couples therapy and other factors contributes to a decreasing divorce rate in the United States. Relationship counseling can help partners understand each other, resolve difficult problems, and even help the couple gain a different perspective on their situation. It cannot, however, fix the unequal power structure that is characteristic of an abusive relationship. Therapy is Key as You Heal Both couples counseling and individual counseling are important to pursue in the wake of an affair. Getting a neutral third party’s perspective on the event, as well as any necessary mediation between the two partners, can help the relationship mend and move forward.