Why Do We Avoid Couples Therapy? 5 Benefits to Consider

All right, let's talk about relationship therapy. This is something that a lot of people find benefit from. However, at the same time, a lot of people are afraid or reluctant to open their relationship up to bring a third party in. They feel like maybe it's a sign of weakness or a sign of weakness in their relationship that they may need that outside help. I'm Evan, your resident mental health and addiction therapist. And in this video, I'm going to talk about the five benefits of why your relationship can benefit from couples therapy, even if it isn't on the rocks.

The first benefit is improved communication skills. It's not about getting a fish, it's learning how to fish, how to talk to your partner, how to resolve conflicts without raising the defenses of the other person. It's about having more emotional intimacy, being able to express your needs. Because partners who report higher satisfaction in the communication skills of their partner are often much happier in their relationships and they have better outcomes. Number two is what I refer to as routine maintenance because you don't need to wait for your cardinal to break down before you get it in to be serviced.

You want to get things like oil change, your tires rotated so these small issues do not turn into bigger ones later that can eventually end the relationship. It's okay to go and see a third party to be able to facilitate conversations. There's always areas that are more sensitive in relationships that you could benefit from having someone else there to help you be more open, more vulnerable in a safer environment. Number three is about exploring your values and expectations out of your relationship as part of a deep foundation.

It's important to understand the perspective of your partner and what's important to them. By having this greater understanding between you all, it helps you be able to grow as your relationship changes over time. And number four is how therapy helps navigate different difficult life transition. Relationships can be particularly vulnerable as they evolve, as circumstances change, whether that be health concerns, new jobs, children, these stressors can really weigh on a relationship and it's much different than when you first met.

Life changes and it's important for the relationship to adapt as well. And therapy can help you through these difficult times. And number five is how it helps reestablish connection. Over time, individuals can wane in passion, relationships mature and sometimes it could be a problem because one partner or the other may not feel satisfied in the same way. This often comes in the form form of physical intimacy, and couples therapists can really help navigate these issues and employ interventions. Whether it's different types of sex therapy to help couples refine that connection, intimacy, both emotionally and physically, which is a huge predictor of success in relationships.

Now look, starting therapy, taking the time to do it, the financial piece, all of this is an investment. However, I believe it is worthwhile. Certain therapies, like emotionally focused therapy for couples, is shown to have a 75% success rate as far as couples believing the relationship has improved from it. Often our romantic relationships, our partnerships are the bedrock of our lives, whether it's for helping us navigate raising children and our overall happiness and satisfaction. Therefore, again, I believe it's a worthwhile investment to find a therapist that is a good fit for you all, whether it's helping navigate a rocky time saving your relationship, but also that maintenance.

So go find a licensed marriage and family therapist near you, or any type of therapist that specializes in couples counseling to enhance your relationships and enhance your life.