Are you at your wit’s end with your relationship and don’t know where to turn next? If so, scheduling a couples counseling session might be the next best move for your relationship.
Understandably, couples counseling makes you nervous because you’re unsure of what to expect, but we’ve created a brief guide that will detail how to prepare yourself for couples counseling.
Make Sure You’re On the Same Page
The first step in preparing for couples therapy is to ensure you and your partner are on the same page about discussing your relationship issues. If you both aren’t invested in making things work, attending couples therapy won’t be as beneficial as you want it to be.
Being open to relationship counseling means attending each session with an open mind, ready to listen to the things that your partner has to say. Counseling provides the optimal environment for both partners to air their concerns without being destructive.
Discuss Your Goals
After you determine whether you and your partner are on the same page about couples counseling, take some time to discuss the goals you hope to achieve out of therapy. Do we need to work on codependency issues?
Do you hope to learn how to be better active listeners? What goals do you all share? Many times one of the most common problems in relationships is the ability to communicate with one another effectively.
Understanding your couple’s goals will also be effective to know because they will need to be shared with your therapist so they can create a plan for future therapy sessions.
Set Aside Time
Even though your couples therapy session will fill a specific time slot, no one wants to sit in a session knowing they need to be somewhere else. Your relationship is meaningful, and this is obvious if you’ve scheduled a couples therapy session to discuss your relationship problems.
Set aside enough time to dedicate to the appointment on the day of your therapy session. For example, if your session is in the late afternoon, clear the rest of your schedule in case you and your partner feel the need to spend time together discussing what took place during the session at home.
Get Ready to Dive Into the Past
Talking about the past can be painful, but it’s a part of therapy. Before your session, be ready to talk about things that have been a sore spot in your relationship.
By talking about the past, you can begin healing. You can also actively find ways to move forward with your partner.
Preparing for Your Couples Counseling Session
Preparing for your first and future counseling session can be challenging. Ensure you and your partner are on the same page and get ready to discuss the past.
Have you found the right couples therapist for your relationship? Contact Honor Your Emotions and let our experts help you and your partner.
Honor Your Emotions is a therapy practice in Dublin, CA serving the East Bay Area including Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore and Danville.
Call (925) 577-4732 today for a free consultation!
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