What is couples therapy?

Life doesn’t always run smoothly, and even the strongest relationships can hit some bumps along the way. If you and your partner are struggling, asking for a bit of extra help can make a real difference in getting back on track.

Couples therapy gives you both the opportunity to work through your struggles together. Whether you’re in a romantic relationship, a friendship, a business partnership, or a sibling or parent-adult child relationship, it provides a safe space to explore your feelings and concerns with the support of an impartial third party in a safe, boundaried and structured environment.

Some examples of why a couple might benefit from couples therapy include:

• Struggling to communicate effectively
• Differences in parenting styles, communication, and relationship styles
• Problems with intimacy – this can be psychological or physical (depending on the needs of the relationship)
• Struggles with trust or feelings of jealousy
• Being affected by work or life stress
• Experiencing financial difficulties or differing financial expectations
• Coping with infidelity
• Dealing with trauma or grief following a life-changing event

How does couples therapy work?

In your first session, you and your partner will work with a couples therapist to agree on what you want to achieve. Whether it’s improving communication, rebuilding trust, resolving conflict, or making difficult decisions, you’ll set clear boundaries to ensure both of you feel comfortable and safe sharing your thoughts.

In the following sessions, your therapist will create a supportive environment to help you both understand why you’re struggling, identify the root causes, and develop strategies to help your relationship move forward.

Some areas couples therapy might encourage you to work on together include:

• Communication: Learning to listen to each other, express feelings constructively, and avoid misunderstandings.
• Dealing with conflict: Developing strategies to handle disagreements calmly and respectfully.
• Rebuilding trust: Addressing past betrayals and finding ways to move forward.
• Boundaries: Setting limits to ensure both partners feel respected and understood, even when discussing difficult subjects.

5 benefits of couples therapy

Couples who go to therapy together may find that they:

1. Gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationship.
2. Improve how they communicate.
3. Create a safe space to be open and honest.
4. Rebuild trust and feel closer to each other again.
5. Decide on and work towards shared goals.

If you and your partner think couples therapy with an experienced Fortis therapist could help, just click here to get in touch.