If you recognize that you and your partner are having trouble in your relationship, you may be considering seeing a couples therapist in Bethesda, Maryland. However, your partner might not know the benefits of relationship counseling yet. He or she might think that your problems will solve themselves and ignore the idea of counseling. The good news is that you can take steps to convince your significant other that seeking a couples therapist at Lindsey Hoskins & Associates is the right choice.
Don’t Wait Too Long
When discussing something as serious as seeing a couples therapist in Bethesda MD, you may be tempted to put it off. However, if you wait too long to talk about this subject with your partner, nothing will get solved. Even though talking about the subject may be a little uncomfortable at first, it will get better once you start talking.
Share Statistics on Proven Benefits
It can be difficult to convince a partner to attend couples counseling. While attending therapy as an individual can be beneficial too, it really requires both partners being completely dedicated to the process in order for the benefits of therapy to be felt. If your significant other is nervous to attend counseling, particularly out of fear that it’ll make things worse between you two, feel free to share these statistics:
- Couples who attend counseling together before getting married on average have a 30 percent increase in success rate, compared to those who don’t
- Almost half of every married couple in today’s society has attended couples counseling, and even before they have officially tied the knot
- While attending couples counseling doesn’t guarantee they’ll stay together, most people say they leave feeling satisfied with their sessions
Approach Your Partner Without Blaming
One of the biggest concerns many partners have about therapy, is that it will turn into a big blaming session. It can help to approach your partner about the topic of Maryland couples therapy in a way that is gentle and doesn’t involve any blaming. Using threats of divorce if they won’t attend couples counseling is likely to not work, as it only continues to divide you two and intensify issues.
A therapist at Lindsey Hoskins & Associates may suggest talking about the pros in your relationship, and how therapy could improve those wonderful aspects even further. Avoid hurtful words, getting angry, or the temptation to point fingers.
It is imperative that your approach isn’t damaging to your relationship. You want to talk about therapy in a way that makes you both feel supported and lifted up, versus worn down. Stay calm, listen to your partner’s feelings, try to address them with facts and what you know about therapy.
Explain That the Counselor Won’t Take Sides
Some people shy away from couples therapy because they think the couples therapist will take the other partner’s side. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. A couples therapist in Bethesda, MD will remain completely neutral in the situation and try to help both of the partners work through their issues. It’s important to explain this to your significant other to make him or her less resistant to counseling.
Make a Compromise
If your partner is very reluctant to counseling, you can always try to make a compromise with him or her.
Don’t Make Ultimatums
If your partner is resistant to seeing a couples therapist in Bethesda, MD, it can be tempting to impose an ultimatum. However, this probably won’t work out very well in the end. People don’t like ultimatums because they make them feel powerless. Instead of demanding that your partner go to counseling or else, calmly explain how a couples therapist in Bethesda, MD would benefit the two of you and how much it would mean to you if he or she would go.
Choose the Right Time
It’s important to tell your partner that you want to go couples counseling at the right time. If you, for example, bring the subject up after the two of you have had a big argument, he or she isn’t likely to respond as well. It’s better to have the discussion when both of you are calm and have some time to talk about the subject.
If you and your partner are having relationship woes, schedule a consultation with a qualified couples therapist in Bethesda, MD with Lindsey Hoskins & Associates today.