Imagine two people relaxing in a beautifully decorated room, with soft lighting additional info. The goal of their time together is to mend the broken bonds between them. This is more than just a counseling session. It’s a lifeline.
Untangling a ball is similar to family and marital counselling. With just one wrong move, it can become much more tangled. It’s here that a therapist comes into play, who is trained and has a knack for reading emotions.
The fact is that relationships are challenging. Not all love is expressed in grand gestures. Simple things can be the most meaningful, such as remembering the trash and lending a sympathetic listener to your partner when they are having a hard day at the office.
Couples counselling is meant to fill in the gaps between couples. This is like trying to fix a leaky vessel while still having to navigate rough seas. The therapist will offer techniques and tools which, while they might seem straightforward, can be very effective in helping with the process.
John and Lisa are a good example. After ten long years of marriage they experienced sudden hardship. They had a tense marriage due to financial disagreements. They were also given useful advice by their therapist that they could immediately put into practice.
During one session, she told John to “listen to Lisa’s story instead of planning a response.” Lisa was told to “recognize John’s feelings before offering solutions when you confide in him about money.”
Do you find it easy? But these small changes can have a huge impact.
Everyone who wants to strengthen their relationship with loved ones can benefit from Family Therapy, and not just couples. Imagine bitterly enmity siblings coming to terms after years of conflict. Or parents who learn to have a discussion with their teenagers without it escalating into a third-world war.
In such situations, the therapist acts as a mediator, helping all parties see things in different ways. They offer a safe environment where candor and judgment are valued.
Empathy is an important component of effective therapy. This applies to both the therapist as well as family members. Half the battle is won when you understand the reason behind someone else’s hurt, anger or frustration.
Humor is essential to therapy sessions. Laughter has the ability to break down barriers quicker than anything else. A funny joke can diffuse tension quicker than any other type of conversation.
Don’t be afraid to say it: therapy does not work. Everyone must put in the effort. While progress might seem slow at first, don’t forget that Rome didn’t appear overnight either!
Consider this scenario: a couple struggling with infidelity. The two are constantly on the edge of their seats, afraid that another betrayal will occur. Their trust is broken and looks like broken tiles. They are constantly reminded about it. It hurts.
A counselor with experience can help to put the pieces back together, bit by bit. As with watching paint dry it takes patience but the rewards are worth it when they finally show up. Smiles and warmth return to conversations which were once icy.
And what about the people who are grieving in their families? It is difficult to cope alone with the pain of losing a family member, let alone help others who may be going through the exact same thing. In such a situation, therapists are able to provide vital support by acting as emotional crutches, until the patient is able to regain the strength needed to face the future bravely, even if the experience has left them permanently wounded. Ironically, shared pain could strengthen relationships previously assumed to be normal.
When you consider seeking professional assistance, don’t forget that this requires courage, knowledge, and most importantly, love. Rebuilding, fixing, and rekindling your connections are all important parts of life. Isn’t it worth fighting to keep them?