When a couple has problems in their relationship and does not manage to solve them but they are maintained in time, there comes a time when these problems begin to deteriorate the relationship more and more, generating dissatisfaction and being able to break it. It is then when some couples decide to go to a psychologist to perform a couple therapy to help them save their relationship.
But the couple therapy is not only for couples with problems, but even a couple with a good relationship can go to a psychologist specializing in relationships to learn to communicate better, prevent future conflicts and have a more harmonious and lasting relationship, as well as strengthen their bonds and get to know each other better.
What problems usually lead a couple to therapy.
The problems for which a couple decides to go to therapy are often diverse, such as lack of communication, disagreements and frequent discussions, sexual problems, domestic or affective, dissatisfaction with one or several aspects of the relationship, disappointment, frustration because the relationship is not As you expected, conflicts over the education of children, financial problems that affect the relationship, infidelity or problems in the management of emotions such as anger or jealousy.
What is the couple therapy?
First, the psychologist makes an assessment of the situation (both as a couple and individually) to know what are the existing problems and the objectives they want to achieve with the therapy and determine the most appropriate type of intervention.
The duration of therapy is usually limited in time, although the number of sessions will depend on each couple, the number of conflicts to be treated, etc. It may be required from a few sessions to deal with a specific problem up to several months in cases of very deteriorated relationships.
During the therapy the conflicts are analyzed to have a greater understanding of them, you learn to solve problems and discuss the differences in a rational way, to recognize which are your ideas and beliefs that you must modify for being unrealistic or erroneous, to detect which behaviors should be change each one and learn how to do it, listen to, understand and accept the other person as well as accept the differences between them.
Types of couples therapy.
There are several approaches regarding the conduct of couples therapy. Ideally, the psychologist who treats you should have knowledge of all existing couples therapies and use one or another or a combination of all of them, depending on the couple in front of you, their preferences and the type of problems.
Cognitive behavioral therapy of couples.
Teach people effective ways to communicate, training in problem solving, increasing the exchange of positive behaviors and how your way of thinking influences your emotions and behavior, helping to make changes in ideas, attributions and expectations when they are being counterproductive, irrational or non-constructive.
Integral couple therapy.
This type of couple therapy combines cognitive therapy techniques with new strategies to encourage acceptance. It helps to have a greater knowledge of the emotions of the other. This therapy considers that people have an emotional reaction to the different behaviors of their partner and tries to achieve greater acceptance and intimacy between both people.
When there is greater acceptance, people are more willing to make the necessary changes, adapt to each other, communicate in a clearer way and solve conflicts. After the evaluation, the psychologist comments with the couple what the problems are and explains what are the reasons why they have these problems, why their efforts to solve them are not working and how the therapy can help them.
Couple therapy focused on emotions.
This therapy comes from the theory of attachment, which studies how people are biologically programmed to establish strong bonds of love between them and how these links can be safe or insecure. According to therapy focused on emotions, couples have problems when they feel an emotional disconnect between them at certain times, which leads to cycles of criticism, anger, resentment and other negative emotions.
The goal of the couple therapy is to help couples overcome these cycles, re-establish that emotional connection and strengthen the bond between them, learning to identify, experiment, explore, understand and express their emotions better, as well as managing them. appropriate way.
