But is it that simple? And, what’s the guarantee your marriage will work after attending couple therapy? How many of these sessions do you need until your issues are resolved? Before considering couple counseling in Orange County, CA, you may want to be certain that the therapies will show results.

Does it Work?

Counseling has evolved today. Therapists follow Gottman Approach and Emotion-Focused Therapy, which has a 75% success rate. The overall success rate of couple counseling in the United States is 98%. This clearly shows how couple therapies can help save a marriage. However, the effectiveness of counseling also depends on the counselor’s experience and professionalism. 

Finding a Professional Counselor

To save your marriage, you need to find a counselor you are comfortable with. Of course, experience matters, and you should review their past jobs or the number of couples they have helped. However, the comfort level you share with the therapist is equally important. Find someone that you and your partner can communicate your issues with. 

Couples can seek help from psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, family and marriage therapists, and clinical social workers. They all practice counseling but follow different approaches. One common thing in each licensed counselor is the knowledge of modern counseling approaches that have a high success rate. Some therapists also specialize in helping you deal with intimacy issues.

How Counseling Works: What to Expect from Your First Session?

It’s understandable that you and your partner might hesitate to walk through the therapist’s door. What kind of questions will they ask? What if you are not comfortable sharing your personal information? What if your issues escalate instead of resolving? It’s better if you know the counselor or have had therapies before. 

The first session is pretty casual. They will ask you to sign the documents explaining the policies and legalities of work. Once the paperwork is done, they will ask basic questions like how many years you have been married, how you met, what has changed now, and what you expect from your partners. They will get to know you individually and as a couple. The first few sessions are all about your personal lives. 

Some couples may consider pre-marital counseling to know if their relationship is strong enough to take the next big step. Others may seek professional help after experiencing problems that may have threatened their relationship, such as infidelity. Other issues like lack of communication, a feeling that your partner is hiding something, frequent arguments, lack of trust, or problems in your sex life can also drive people to a counselor.

You don’t need to have problems in your relationship to consider counseling. Some couples attend therapies to ensure seamless interaction and continue to share the same bond. People feel uncomfortable having a talk about intimacy with a stranger. However, the therapist knows when is a good time to discuss your intimate issues. Your therapist’s office is a safe and confidential place where you can share your marriage details. You can be honest with your therapist and tell them what you feel. Therapists listen to both of you, understand your pain points, and observe your body language. 

Setting a Timeframe

You need to share your problems with the counselor. Once they know why you are taking therapy, they will ask you about your goals. For example, what do you want to achieve through these therapies? Perhaps, you want your partner to be more empathetic or affectionate. Perhaps, you are having a hard time accepting your partner’s affair, or you want to trust them after infidelity but can’t gather the courage for that. 

These goals will keep changing as your relationship grows. There isn’t a fixed deadline for therapies. Even the therapist can’t tell how long it will take for you to solve your issues and strengthen your bond. Some couples notice improvements within the first few sessions, while others need months.

Counseling is a personalized practice. You can leave it whenever you like, but it’s advisable to give it some time. The EFT approach has an excellent success rate and works for most couples — whether you are dealing with arguments or a more complex issue like infidelity. 

Individual and Couples Therapy Sessions

You may have seen marriage counseling where a couple sits on the couch and discuss their problems with the counselor. Well, that’s not how it works. The therapist might take your individual sessions so you can talk about things you are reluctant to discuss in front of your partner. These one-on-one sessions help your counselor understands the underlying cause of your issue. 

Other Relationship Issues

The tension between a married couple can have a negative impact on their relationship with others too. This can get pretty challenging if you have kids, especially adolescents. That’s how most kids develop eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Fortunately, most couple counselors also specialize in family therapies. You can schedule family therapies to strengthen your bond with your partner and the family members.