Facts On Couples Counseling Chicago Residents Should Know

By Jason Ellis


Every relationship is characterized by highs and lows. Married couples have to handle problems of varying complexity from time to time and depending on the nature of the problem, an agreement or a disagreement may be the end result. Occasional disagreements are not abnormal but if frequent and emotive, there may be a need for therapy. Before registering for couples counseling Chicago residents should know a number of things.

Many couples are not comfortable with making the decision to seek the help of a therapist. Many of them consider therapy as a last resort when all the other alternatives have been exhausted. The general advice is that couples should not wait until things are far deteriorated because getting solutions by then is extremely difficult. Having therapy sessions regularly helps to sought out problems before they become unmanageable.

Once the couple decides to sign up for therapy, their next task is to look for a qualified therapist (marriage counselor). Recommendations can be obtained from relatives, friends and from the internet. If you cannot find a therapist then consider other alternatives. Doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists are have some training in therapy and may be of help. Religious leaders may also offer some useful advice.

The length of therapy varies depending on the severity of the problem. In general there are short term therapies and long term therapies. Short term therapies have a duration of between one and three sessions (focused therapy is a sub-type that lasts a lot shorter) while the long term therapies are anything between 12 and 24 sessions. The average time taken during a single session is 30 to 45 minutes.

For the therapy to be successful, each party to the process must recognize the fact that each individual has a unique personality with a distinct value system. Being party to different institutions and societal organizations may mean that behaviors may vary to some extent. It is not always possible to get other people to agree with our beliefs. Counseling focuses on solving underlying problems by helping partners reach a compromise position with regard to their beliefs.

Every problem has a history. Some of the issues that couples have to deal with take months or years before they become evident. It is important for couples to recognize the origin of their problems if they are to deal with them effectively. Poor communication may be the reason as to why some of the problems take quite long to solve. The partners need to learn how to talk to each other on a regular basis.

The work of a therapist is to be a facilitator. They will not issue instructions on how a particular problem should be sorted out. The best that they can do is to offer their personal opinion and some guidance. The couple must remember that solutions will have to come from them. Partners should be able to freely discuss their affairs before the therapist without the fear of being judged.

There are numerous factors that may lead to a strained marital relationship. Lack of trust, affairs, financial issues, failure to meet responsibilities and family conflicts are just but a few examples. Couples or marriage counseling us designed to help partners appreciate that they have inherent differences in their value systems and are bound to differ in opinion from time to time. They learn how to communicate in the most effective manner.




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