Marriage brings two souls together with shared experiences and emotions. Yet, no matter how strong, every relationship has its share of challenges along the way.
Over time, even the healthiest marriages can experience breakdowns, unresolved issues, and other hurdles that are difficult to overcome by couples themselves.
It is during these moments that many couples seek marriage or couples counselling, which provides a safe and supportive space to address and resolve their challenges.
There are ample transformative benefits of marriage counselling for relationships that have hit rough patches. Whether you just got married or have been together for decades, marriage counselling will definitely make your relationship stronger and happier.
Who Needs Marriage Counselling?
Marriage counselling is for couples at any level.
Even those who don’t have significant issues but want to know how to tackle potential disputes in their marriage can still benefit from counselling. It provides a safe space to communicate openly and honestly with one another, work through any underlying issues, and strengthen the foundation of the relationship.
Yet, couples experiencing severe challenges such as communication difficulties, facing conflicts and unresolved issues, and lacking trust and closeness should consider couples counselling.
How Does Marriage Counselling Work?
Marriage counselling is a collaborative process with a trained couples therapist to address challenges and improve the overall dynamic of a relationship.
The process of marriage counselling typically involves the following steps:
- The sessions usually beings with an initial assessment, where the therapist understands your current relationship dynamic, concerns, and goals.
- Based on the initial assessment, you and your spouse work together to identify what they want to achieve through it.
- Usually, the therapist may also have individual sessions with you and your partner to know each perspective, emotion and personal history.
- Your marriage counsellors may use a specialized practice, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), that helps both of you identify and express your emotional needs with increasing intimacy and connection.
- Expect assignments such as communication exercises, date nights or individual reflections to practice new skills outside counselling sessions.
- As the couples therapy progress, your therapist will regularly evaluate your progress towards the goals. However, both of you should have regular follow-ups with the counsellor and continue working on your relationship outside the therapy sessions if you want quick positive results through marriage counselling.
Benefits of Marriage Counselling
The benefits of marriage counselling are unquestionable. It has many pros not only for couples with serious marriage problems but also for newlyweds, new parents or even those who have been married for more than 25 years.
Here are some of the benefits that marriage counselling provides:
1. Helps you to resolve issues
Whether it comes to communication, finances, intimacy, jealousy or other issues in your relationship, it’s difficult to resolve the problem by yourself. It’s better to consult with a counsellor or therapist. They will help you resolve all your issues through their expertise and experience.
2. Develop a closer relationship
Counselling provides a supportive and structured environment and different tools to address your couple’s issues, improve communication, resolve conflicts and intimacy, strengthen emotional bonds and develop shared values and goals. These factors allow you to enjoy each other’s company, feel romantic again and set a closer relationship.
3. Helps you avoid major future problems
Marriage counselling helps you identify your overall relationship problems as early as possible. It is better to go to a marriage counsellor sooner as you will recognize the causes early and have lots of time to work on your relationship. It also helps you to avoid other potential issues and conflicts that might arise in the future.
4. Helps you listen and understand each other
Efficient interaction and communication are keys to any healthy and happy relationship. You want to feel listened to and understood by your partner.
Marriage counselling teaches different communication patterns to help you learn to listen and understand each other appropriately.
5. Helps you become more supportive
Many married couples struggle with providing support to each other in their relationship. It can be challenging for both you and your partner to recognize when you need assistance from one another.
Seeking the guidance of a marriage counsellor will help you navigate, understand and empathize with each other’s emotions and feelings.
6. Helps you to set goals together
It’s common to overlook proper planning before tying the knot, leading to various relationship issues.
However, effective communication for future goals is essential in your marriage so both of you are on the same page. Sometimes, you may even need to compromise your individual goal to achieve shared goals. This is when a couples counsellor acts as an intermediary, facilitating the development of individual and shared plans and strategies.
Conclusion
Marriage counselling helps you develop positive relationships through different tips and techniques. It is one of the best investments you will make in a relationship. You’ll learn different strategies to overcome past issues and move forward in your relationship.
However, more than just attaining marriage counselling, you and your partner should have motivation and dedication to improve your relationship. You need to follow every step and exercise as suggested by your counsellor to have happiness and a sense of achievement in your relationship.
Take your first step in your relationship by consulting with our professional counsellors in Vancouver.
Benefits of Marriage Counselling – FAQS
What is the importance of marriage counselling?
Marriage counselling helps you address and resolve your marital issues through different strategies, tips and techniques. However, marriage counselling is not just for couples in crisis; it can also enhance already healthy relationships.
Is marriage counselling effective?
In most cases, marriage counselling is effective. Journal of Marital and family therapy states 70% of couples in treatment experience a positive impact from marriage counselling. It helps you to overcome your different relationship issues and resolve them.
What is the purpose of marriage counselling?
Marriage counselling aims to help you identify your marital issues, resolve those problems and deal with conflict healthily.
Is marriage counselling worth it?
Yes, marriage counselling is worth it if you seek a professional marriage counsellor and properly follow their suggestions and guidance. Marriage counselling has saved many people from separation and divorce, and investing your time and money in it is worth it.

Carson Kivari is the Founder and Clinic Director of Thrive Downtown, with years of experience helping individuals and couples overcome anxiety, depression, and burnout. He guides clients on a journey of self-exploration and trauma release to find purpose, connection, and safety. Take the first step towards healing and contact Carson today to schedule a session.