Will Therapy Save My Relationship?

The simplest answer to this question is that it depends. Yes, therapy can save a relationship, however, that will depend on several factors. On the other hand, no, it may not work if both parties are not interested and putting the work into the relationship.

The timing of attending therapy when it comes to relationship counseling is of the essence. If relationship discrepancies are caught in the early stages, therapy can be greatly beneficial to help get back on track, even potentially better than where it started. Starting therapy even before things go off the track is a fantastic solution and can be extremely proactive. This is why premarital counseling exists, it's to ensure that couples enter the relationship prepared to take on the responsibility of having someone else in their lives.

If attending therapy as last resort, it may not work out as well as it could have if therapy was started much earlier. Many times couples will wait to go to counseling because they want to solve the issues on their own, they believe they failed if they can't work issues out on their own, or it's a combination of both. Society for years dictated that relationship problems were a sign of weakness or dysfunction and they should not be aired out publicly. Some cultures still believe this very strongly, so the couples choose not to talk with anyone about the relationship.

Therapy can help to strengthen a relationship by working on things such as communication, how to love each other, and two except the other partner. Communication is usually the area where relationships lack. Partners do not always understand how to communicate with each other, so they either retreat and choose not to communicate or they communicate poorly which causes strife in the relationship. Behaviors like affairs, working all the time or finding other outlets are usually due to poor communication.

If an individual is looking to save a relationship, therapy can be an excellent intervention. It is important to remember that therapy does take work and it is not a passive treatment. Be prepared to work hard to save your relationship. Therapists are not magic and cannot save the relationship for you, you will have to do the work, but it's definitely worth it.