Couples therapy

The first thing you should know is that going to couples therapy doesn't always mean your relationship is on the verge of collapse. More often, one or more problems have arisen between the two partners, and with the skills and experience available to them, they haven't been able to solve them independently. For this reason, it's advisable to seek professional psychological help. If you feel you and your partner are having trouble communicating, if arguments are frequent and unresolved, or if you're noticing a growing emotional distance, couples therapy can be very beneficial for you. It can also be useful if you have problems related to your sexual relationship, mistrust due to infidelity, or if you simply want to strengthen your relationship. Finally, situations such as facing major life changes together, such as the birth of a child, job loss, or a move, are times when you could also benefit from psychological support. As they say, prevention is better than cure.

The topics are tailored to the specific issues in your relationship. Some common topics include improving communication as a couple, fostering mutual empathy and awareness, building mutual trust, reducing excessively controlling behaviors due to fear of infidelity, managing individual and couple stress, and so on. Beyond these general topics, we will address whatever you need to address. Therapeutic goals are defined and finalized collaboratively and horizontally between the three of you.

As in individual therapy, the first step is to understand the problem, that is, to carry out the assessment process. Specifically, it is common to have an individual session with each member of the couple so that you have the opportunity to tell the psychologist what is happening from your unique perspective and in an intimate and private manner. This is followed by the first joint session, in which the individual discussions are discussed. The objective of this first phase is to develop a common framework for the problem. In other words, the goal is for us to agree on what is happening and begin working to find out why it is happening. In subsequent sessions, we will delve deeper into the problems already identified and explore the underlying causes and how they affect the relationship. Once we are all clear about what is happening and why, we can close the assessment process and continue with the treatment or intervention portion. In this way, we will begin to put into practice skills, techniques, and strategies aimed at achieving the defined therapeutic goals. Progress is regularly reviewed, and goals are adjusted as needed. Finally, when you achieve significant and stable improvement over time, the end of therapy is planned, and strategies are established to maintain the progress made and prevent relapse.

It's quite common for only one partner to want to attend couples therapy at first. If this is your case, don't be discouraged. You can start with individual therapy, which in itself can have a positive impact on the relationship and eventually motivate your partner to join. It's also important to talk openly about the potential benefits and any concerns your partner may have. Providing clear information about what couples therapy entails can alleviate many fears, misunderstandings, and stereotypes about couples therapy. Sometimes, an honest and direct conversation can help your partner see the value of attending therapy together. Likewise, if this is your case, we recommend not pressuring the person who doesn't want to attend. It's enough to assertively present your reasons for wanting to attend couples therapy and wait for them to reflect and eventually change their mind.

The time required to resolve problems in couples therapy varies greatly. It depends on the nature and severity of the problems, as well as the commitment of both partners to working on the relationship. If the problems are multifactorial, determined by temporary or long-standing contextual causes, it may take longer to properly address them. The frequency of sessions also plays an important role: more frequent sessions can speed up the process. Furthermore, the more you practice skills and tasks between sessions, the faster you will see results. Some couples see improvements within a few weeks, while others may need several months of continuous work to achieve their goals. In any case, we recommend that you ask this question to the psychologist once you have completed the evaluation process. They will be able to best guide you regarding the estimated duration of treatment.