Relationship conflict is one of the main causes of emotional suffering. Relationship stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction problems are all directly correlated. Couples counseling has grown in popularity, which is not surprising. You will eventually encounter difficulties if you have been together long enough. Interventions in couples therapy intended to keep relationships on the correct track may benefit recently engaged couples. There is strife in every relationship. In addition to resolving your problems, managing disagreements can strengthen your bond. We’ve compiled the top methods to get you started if you’re considering couples therapy or unsure if it’s right for you.
5 Top Couple Therapy Techniques
Narrative therapy
The core of narrative therapy is having patients rewrite their stories and use narratives to explain their issues. This can assist them in seeing that their entire experience cannot be captured in a single story. Couples who believe that both of them are to blame for the breakdown of their relationship may find narrative therapy beneficial.
A 2016 study found that couples who receive story therapy report less conflict and more cooperation. Couples often think that because they have been a “failure” from the beginning and it is what they “deserve,” they are destined to experience this love pitfall and emotional agony.
Emotionally focused therapy
The main goal of emotionally focused couple therapy is to strengthen your closeness and devotion to your companion. The therapist assists you in recognizing and altering the habits that cause you to feel disconnected. Emotionally focused therapy (EFT), which has been demonstrated to support long-lasting behavioral improvements, is a technique many therapists employ.
Couples are expected to recognize unhealthy habits in their relationship that are preventing stable attachments and relationships. People acquire and apply methods to mend or establish safe and stable relationships in a relationship.
Gottman Method
One common technique used by couples’ therapists is the Gottman Method. The method is intended to assist couples in managing conflict in their relationship while also helping them understand one another better. With this approach, you and your partner discuss areas of disagreement and develop problem-solving techniques. It seeks to increase intimacy and friendship between you and your companion.
Solution-focused therapy
Solution-focused therapy is a paradigm to consider if you’re trying to work towards a certain goal, are dealing with a particular issue, or are experiencing burnout. Couples who want to address a specific problem in their relationship are the greatest candidates for solution-focused therapy.
When pursuing a short-term relationship objective, the strategy is beneficial. It assists couples in coming up with a solution to their relationship problems rather than just sitting there and thinking about them.
Systemic Couples Therapy
Systems theory, which holds that people cannot be completely understood in isolation from their family, societal, and cultural systems, is the lens through which Systemic Couples Therapy examines relationships. This method investigates how these larger systems and interaction patterns impact the dynamics of the marriage. Therapists can explore the roles, power dynamics, communication styles, and expectations each partner brings to the relationship in couples counseling. Couples can attempt to alter unfavorable interaction habits and create more wholesome ways of connection by being aware of these systemic factors.
