Marriage counseling, also known as couples therapy and relationship counseling, helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. Thriveworks marriage counseling in St. Louis, MO is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best-equipped to help couples. Some examples of common focuses within Marriage counseling include:
- Jealousy
- Trust issues
- Infidelity
- Opposing values
- Different visions for the future
- Disagreements in parenting
- Lack of trust
- Financial distress
- Sex issues
Marriage counseling works by helping couples identify and better navigate their unique challenges. Following an initial assessment of the couple in terms of strengths and needs, the therapist would then discuss their therapeutic goals and any possible approaches or ways of working together as therapist and couple.
Couples attend sessions together, whether they meet in person or by video. In addition to regular marriage counseling sessions, each partner may also be asked to attend a few individual sessions to supplement their progress. This will allow their counselor to get to know each individual better, assess each of their personal needs, and develop the very best treatment plan moving forward.
On average, couples attend marriage counseling for 12 weeks. However, marriage counseling may last longer or shorter, dependent on the couples’ needs, the challenges they’d like to work through, and the pace of their progress. Marriage counselors and therapists at Thriveworks in St. Louis, MO work with their clients to create goals, decide on ideal timelines, and establish treatment plans.
Marriage Counseling in St. Louis, MO
Marriage takes work. Life is hectic. Conflict is inevitable. Spouses can grow apart, but they can also come back together. There are no quick-fixes or magic formulas. Only those within the marriage can decide its future. Many spouses want a better marriage, but they may not know how to improve their relationship. Marriage therapy is often helpful for identifying areas where spouses can grow personally and within their relationship.
The marriage counselors at Thriveworks Counseling in St. Louis have worked with many couples as they are learning to love each other well. There are always good times and bad within any relationship, and our clients are learning how to optimize the good and work through the bad. If you think you could benefit from marriage help, reach out to Thriveworks St. Louis today. We’ll get you scheduled for marriage counseling right away.
Should We Go to Marriage Counseling?
This is a common question couples may ask when they are struggling. Spouses who have never been to therapy previously may wonder, Is this the type of thing others go to counseling for? In many ways, there is no right time to start therapy. The good news is that there is also no wrong time to start therapy. If you are wondering if therapy might help your marriage, it may be time to get started. Of course, everyone will have their own reason to begin marriage counseling, but here are a few of the reasons clients have started working with a marriage therapist at Thriveworks in St. Louis:
1) You and your spouse argue nonstop.
Negative interactions have more destructive power than positive interactions have healing power. Spouses may feel as if they are arguing all the time when The Golden Ratio is off balance. Marriage therapists often help couples improve their conflict resolution skills so that negative interactions are engaged and resolved. Then, spouses can move onto more positive interactions.
2) You and your spouse never argue.
Spouses can get into trouble when they stop advocating for their unique thoughts, feelings, and needs. Instead, they minimize their distinctiveness. Lack of arguments may also signal that spouses are weary of conflict and have given up. In either case, marriage therapy may be able to get the marriage to a healthier place.
3) Someone has cheated.
Affairs can send a marriage into crisis. Some spouses know that they are ready to separate. Some spouses know they want to try and save the marriage. Many spouses have no idea what their next steps should be. In all these cases, a marriage counselor is often a helpful guide for navigating an affair.
4) You are trying to change your spouse (or your spouse is trying to change you).
Marriage therapists often work with spouses on appropriate boundaries and accountability and help them avoid trying to change each other.
Marriage Counseling at Thriveworks in St. Louis—Making an Appointment
When you contact Thriveworks in St. Louis for an appointment, you and your spouse may be meeting with your therapist the following day. We offer evening and weekend sessions. Many different insurance plans are accepted. Let’s work together. Call Thriveworks Counseling in St. Louis today.
