Our relationships play a large role in our happiness. If your relationships with the people closest to you are healthy and fulfilling, there’s a great likelihood that you’ll have an overall sense of well-being even though not everything in your life is as you’d like it. If your relationships are difficult and riven with conflict, your level of overall satisfaction likely won’t be high.

One reason for this is that the people closest to you make up your social support system, and when you’re going through a tough time at work. If you’re ill, having loved ones who support you through it all makes a world of difference.

Additionally, as we are deeply social and relational creatures, relationships are a big part of our flourishing. We fulfill what we were created for by God when we are in healthy, loving relationships both with God and other people. The health of romantic relationships is even more critical for our flourishing, as these tend to be our closest relationships. If your relationship isn’t what you’d hoped, or if you’re going through struggles, you should consider couples counseling.

Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(424) 438-2888

What Is Couples Counseling?

Couples counseling, which is also sometimes called marriage counseling, or relationship counseling, is a form of psychotherapy or talk therapy in which a couple meets with a professional such as a psychologist or counselor to work through areas of concern in their relationship. Couples counseling isn’t only for married couples, however. It’s also intended for those couples who’ve made a long-term commitment to one another, or who are deepening their commitment to one another.

Couples counseling is for every couple, whatever season in which they find themselves. It can help couples to stay connected and brush up on their communication and conflict resolution skills, for instance. Some couples regularly go for counseling to maintain the health of their relationship. However, couples counseling can also help couples work through intractable problems that threaten the health of their relationship.

All couples can benefit from couples counseling, but you and your partner should consider couples counseling if:

  • You have recurring conflicts over the same issues.
  • You are constantly engaged in conflict over a broad range of concerns.
  • You can’t seem to get on the same page about issues that are important to you.
  • Your relationship doesn’t seem as vibrant or fulfilling as before.
  • Your relationship has lost its sense of intimacy and openness.
  • Infidelity or other serious breaches of trust have occurred.
  • You’re not communicating well with each other.
  • You’re at an impasse about important decisions, and you need the help of a third party.

These and other reasons strongly suggest that you could use the help of a couples counselor.

Sessions are between 50 minutes to an hour. Your counselor will get to know you and will ask questions to explore the concern that has brought you to him or her. He or she will explore aspects of your relationship, such as your past, as well as your feelings at present. Your counselor may use a variety of therapeutic techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Psychodynamic Couples Therapy, to explore your relationship, understand patterns of thought and behavior that may be harming your relationship, and cultivate your appreciation of your strengths as a couple.

Couples counseling may be difficult because it can explore past hurts and topics that may be hard to revisit. But it’s important to remember that counseling isn’t about the blame game, but rather about nurturing your relationship.

Couples counseling can help you understand each other better and provide you with greater insight into the dynamics of your conflicts. It can also furnish you with skills and tools to communicate effectively so you avoid recurring conflict and can resolve it amicably. This makes for a stronger, healthier, more joyful, and fulfilling relationship.

Conclusion

Romantic relationships can be complex and difficult to navigate. Sometimes the challenges and differences can seem intractable and overwhelming to manage on your own, and your relationship suffers as a result. However, it’s possible to work on these challenges to build a healthy, lasting, and joyful relationship. Loma Linda Christian Counseling can help you and your partner work through your concerns and any issues that stand in the way of your relationship flourishing and achieving its full potential.

If you want to find a Christian couples counselor in the Loma Linda area, consider Loma Linda Christian Counseling. Using effective and rigorous counseling techniques rooted in a Christian faith-based outlook, the counselors at Loma Linda Christian Counseling can help your relationship thrive; please contact us for a risk-free trial session.

Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(424) 438-2888