Why You Can't Afford Not to Hire a Couples Counselor
You can feel that something in your relationship has shifted. You and your partner aren’t connecting like you used to. Your arguments are becoming more intense and frequent, or communication has stopped cold.
Relationship problems, no matter how engulfing they seem, do not mean it's the end of the road. If you and your partner are committed to saving your relationship, counseling can help you overcome your problems and grow stronger together.
While the benefits of attending therapy are numerous, the cost of working with a qualified couples counselor can be a roadblock. You might be wondering if trying counseling is worth it.
The simple answer is YES!
To truly understand the value that a qualified couples therapist can bring, consider the cost of not seeking professional help.
Poor communication skills cause arguments to escalate, and hurt feelings become entrenched.
One or both partners withdraw emotionally, creating a pattern of stonewalling, contempt, and resentment that can be difficult or impossible to reverse.
Both of these scenarios can cause an immeasurable amount of emotional pain and stress. Investing in couples counseling can save you and your partner from years of heartache.
If you are considering couples therapy, here are a few more reasons why working with a qualified couples counselor is worth the cost.
Why Is Couples Counseling Necessary?
Most Couples Need Help Reducing Conflicts
All couples have disagreements, and conflicts are a normal facet of healthy relationships.
Research has shown that nearly 70 percent of couple issues are perpetual. Much of the time, perpetual problems themselves are not harmful to a relationship. However, if couples do not approach these issues in a respectful, collaborative way, they can cause an irreparable rift.
Overcoming perpetual conflicts successfully doesn’t mean resolving them. Instead, couples must learn how to discuss these recurring issues in a manner that strengthens their connection. Couples therapy will give you the skills to navigate conflicts in a loving and supportive way.
Couples Counseling Improves Communication
A couples therapist will help you and your partner understand the roots of your conflict and encourage you to develop healthy communication skills. This will reduce the toll that disagreements can take on your relationship.
An Experienced Couples Counselor Saves Time and Money
Couples counselors are more expensive than general therapists, and that is with good reason.
A therapist who specializes in working with couples and relationship issues has the added benefit of working with dozens, even hundreds of couples. They have a deep understanding of the complexities of couples therapy and can ensure that both you and your partner feel safe, respected, and heard.
Counseling Times Can Vary
Couples counseling is never a "one and done" experience. However, some therapy methods can add unnecessary time and costs to the counseling process. For example, therapists who do not specialize in couples counseling may recommend one-size-fits-all approaches that do not produce any meaningful results.
The Right Couples Counselor Values Your Time
On the other hand, our counselors have the background and knowledge to create tailored treatment plans that will address your unique strengths and therapy goals. We also do not recommend perpetual treatment plans or 12-step programs. Instead, we work with you to forge healthy and fulfilling relationship dynamics that can last for the long term. We invite you to book an introductory call with us today and let us know how we can help you.
Ask Your Therapist How Effective They Are!
The right couples counselor will be able to back up their claims with results. At Peter Stathakos and Associates, we can proudly say that 98 percent of our couples counseling clients reconciled and strengthened their relationships.
This is a remarkable statistic that stands out even more when considering the majority of our clients are navigating issues such as betrayal, sex addiction, and infidelity. If a counselor cannot show you a track record of success with couples facing similar issues, you cannot be sure that they have the skills, background, or training to help you reach your desired goals.
Difficult Separations Are Costly
While attending couples counseling comes at a price, the alternatives can be just as costly. Relationship stress can impact all areas of your life, including your work performance. Chronic stress can reduce your productivity, increase your sick days, and affect your concentration.
The High Price of Difficult Divorce
Unresolved marital conflicts increase the likelihood of a contested divorce, which can cost upwards of $10,000 in legal fees. On top of the financial strain, a difficult divorce can be emotionally draining for both parties and their affected family members.
If your marriage deteriorates past the point of reconciliation, divorce may be inevitable. Still, working through your separation with the help of a couples counselor can reduce resentment, encourage cooperation, and promote healing.
Couples Counseling Can Improve Your Quality of Life
Living day-in and day-out with the stress of a conflict filled relationship can wreak havoc on your health and well-being. Dysfunctional relationships increase both partner’s risks of cardiovascular diseases and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
An experienced counselor can help you recognize the harmful patterns driving your dissatisfaction. You and your partner will improve your emotional connection, communication skills, and intimacy- the building blocks of a healthy and functional relationship.
If efforts to reconcile your relationship are not yielding results, it may be time to work with an experienced couples counselor. Contact us today and get the compassionate, professional support you and your partner deserve.