Relationships are a beautiful journey filled with love and joy. But sometimes, they can be challenging and complicated. In such difficulties, couples often wonder, “Is couples therapy worth it?”. The answer to this question lies in the desire of both partners to invest and rebuild their relationship.
What you put into couples therapy determines what you get. It requires effort, dedication, and open communication from both partners. When you’re invested in couples counselling, you can see positive changes and experience joy and satisfaction in your relationship. If you are wondering whether couples therapy can help, we will help you to explore some most common questions.
What is Couples Therapy?
Couples therapy, or relationship counselling, is a form of psychotherapy that helps you and your partner navigate and improve relationships. It allows you to recognize the negative behaviours which can change to improve relationships.
It involves meeting with a qualified therapist who specializes in working with couples to address various issues and challenges. Couples therapy is equivalent to anything else you invest yourself into. You will get out of it what you’re willing to put into it.
Benefits of Couples Therapy
Challenges will appear in the journey of any relationship, and it’s common for problems to be ignored or handled. However, couples therapy offers many benefits that can positively impact your relationship, which include:
1. Effective and Improved Communication
One of the key benefits of couples therapy is effective and improved communication between you and your partner. It provides a safe background for both individuals to express their opinions and emotions. A therapist will help you and your partner to understand communication effectively.
2. Enhanced Emotional Connection
Couples therapy desires to strengthen the bond between couples. It helps to identify the emotional obstacles that may have caused the increasing distance from your partner.
Couples can understand the deep bond and secure relationship between each other by examining the underlying feelings and openness.
3. Relationship Conflict Resolution
Conflict is a natural part of any relationship. Going to therapy will give you an easier platform to learn healthier ways of resolving conflicts. It is not about who’s good or bad but about understanding each other’s perspectives.
4. Increased Relationship Satisfaction
One of the goals of couples therapy is to improve overall relationship satisfaction between partners. You can address issues by strengthening strong communication. Couples therapy helps partners better understand and create a more fulfilling and satisfying relationship.
5. Problem-Solving Skills
Couples therapy provides partners with useful problem-solving skills during therapy sessions. You can learn to identify issues proactively and collaboratively through guided exercises and techniques. These essential skills can be applied to various relationships, helping couples maintain a healthy and strong bond.
Drawbacks of Couples Therapy
Although couples therapy is extremely beneficial for couples experiencing difficulties in their relationship, there are also some financial and time limitations that may arise during the counselling process:
1. Financial Cost
The financial cost is one of the major concerns for couples when considering couples counselling. Therapy sessions can be expensive, and the overall price depends on factors such as therapists’ fees and the duration of the therapy. It is always wise to be mindful of your financial resources, so you can feel confident that you are taking steps to improve your relationship while being responsible with the money.
2. Time Commitment
Another possible drawback is the time commitment that couples therapy requires. Regular therapy sessions normally take several weeks or months. This can be challenging, especially for couples with busy schedules or conflicting commitments. However, the time invested in therapy can lead to long-term benefits for the relationship.
Does Couples Therapy Really Work?
Couples therapy is a common challenge used to approach the relationship challenge and improve the partnership’s overall quality. You may realize whether couples therapy is effective and makes a difference in your relationship. The answer to this question is YES, and it requires a willingness to invest effort and make certain changes in various aspects of your life. With dedication and a commitment to the process, couples therapy will definitely yield positive outcomes and strengthen your bond with your partner.
Research suggests that therapy help couples enhance their communication, rebuild trust between each and resolve conflicts.
Further, 97.1% of clients received help from couples therapy, and 80% of individuals succeeded with a positive impact.
However, it’s crucial to have realistic expectations. Couples therapy requires effort and patience, not a quick fix, but a journey that requires time and dedication from both partners.
It’s important to have open and honest conversations with your partner and the therapist to consider whether couples therapy is the right choice for your needs.
When To Pursue Couples Therapy?
If you are wondering whether it’s the right time to pursue couples therapy, there are certain factors to consider. First and foremost, couples therapy can be valuable if you and your partner are facing persistent challenges or conflicts in your relationship. But it’s crucial to address the issues before they occur.
Also, couples therapy can be beneficial if you are experiencing a breakdown or struggling in communication with your partner. These challenges can lead to misunderstandings and distance in your relationship.
In such cases, seeking therapy will help rebuild the emotional bond with your partner. It can also be valuable for couples wanting to enhance their relationship, improve their communication skills, or boost their emotional connection.
How Much Does Couples Therapy Cost?
Normally, couples counselling costs between $100-$200 per hour. Yet, couples therapy costs depend on various factors, such as the therapist’s qualifications and experience and the sessions’ duration.
Most skilled couples therapists offer 90-minute sessions for couples, which means you’ll pay between $150 and $300 per session. Some therapist accepts discounted packages for multiple sessions, while others offer sliding fees based on income.
It is always beneficial to conduct your research and consider which suits you best. At Thrive, we provide sessions with our experienced counsellors priced at $200 + GST per session. Additionally, we offer sessions with our talented interns at a more affordable rate of $80 + GST per session. Book your session here.
Conclusion
Couples therapy is a valuable resource for couples seeking to improve their relationship. It offers a supportive and proficient environment where Couples can address challenges, enhance communication and build a stronger emotional connection.
Through effective techniques and guidance from a skilled therapist, couples therapy can have positive consequences, such as improved relationship satisfaction, better conflict resolution skills, and increased emotional familiarity.
If you’re located in Vancouver and need professional counselling services, Thrive Downtown offers specialized couples counselling to support your journey toward a healthier and happier relationship. Take the first step and improve your relationship by seeking couples therapy at Thrive Downtown. Contact us now!
FAQs About Couples Therapy
Is couples therapy worth it for unmarried couples?
Yes, couples therapy is equally beneficial for unmarried couples as well. It can be valuable for any couple experiencing relationship difficulties and helps to enhance communication, resolve conflicts, and boost the relationship.
What is the success rate of couples therapy?
The success rate of couples therapy varies, but between 70-90% of couples find it beneficial.
Should we do couples therapy or break up?
You should opt for couples therapy if you are thinking about breaking up. It can promote understanding and positive change, giving your partnership a chance to succeed. However, if you do not see any progress and have decided to break up, it’s important to communicate openly and respectfully with your partner.
Can couples therapy save a relationship?
Couples therapy helps to save your relationship by improving communication skills and resolving the conflicts between your partner. But it depends on active participation from both partners.
How long do most couples do therapy?
The duration of couples therapy varies depending on each couple’s specific needs and goals. Depending on the efforts couples put together, it may take from a few months to a year or even more.
Can I go to couples therapy alone?
Although couples therapy is designed for both partners, you can go to therapy alone. A trained therapist will help you bring out your best and guide you to reconnect with your partner.
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.
