When may it be necessary to seek couples therapy?
You may need Sterling, Virginia’s couples therapy if you and your significant other are going through hardships. The therapists at Lindsey Hoskins & Associates know sometimes the signs that your relationship may be in trouble are blatantly obvious, but other times they can be much more subtle. In the latter case, it is easy to convince yourself that things aren’t as bad as they really are as a coping mechanism. However, recognizing the small signs and seeking help from a professional right away may help prevent the relatively minor problems from escalating into major issues that could damage the relationship beyond repair.
What follows is a list of signs, both large and small, that indicate your relationship could be in trouble and that you may be able to benefit from couples therapy or marriage counseling.
1. Inherent Disadvantages
Some relationships include inherent risk factors that put couples at greater risk for divorce or breakup. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
Interfaith relationship
Marriage at a young age
Low income bracket
Limited education
These factors do not spell automatic doom for your relationship, nor are they reasons to start therapy or counseling in and of themselves. However, if relationship problems are occurring where one or more of these risk factors are present, it becomes more imperative to seek professional help as soon as possible in the hopes of salvaging the relationship.
2. Lack of Balance
Ideally, a relationship should be an equal partnership. Where a relationship is in trouble, however, one partner sometimes takes on a role similar to that of a “punisher” or a “parent, ” placing the other partner in a position of less power. Behaviors that indicate this is taking place include taking complete control of family finances or withholding affection as a punitive measure. Left unchecked, these behaviors can escalate into abuse. You should seek couples therapy in Sterling, VA before it gets to this point.
3. Lack of Communication
This can mean that you’re not talking to one another at all or that the conversations you do have are not productive because they are too negative, too superficial, too cyclical, etc. Communication issues account for many relationship challenges, and a therapist or counselor can help you learn the necessary skills to communicate more effectively.
Finding Couples Therapy in Sterling, Virginia You Can Trust
If you are experiencing problems in your relationship, you might wonder if it is time to seek couples therapy Sterling, VA families trust. Making the decision to get counseling is a big step.
Here a few good reasons why you and your significant other may benefit from therapy:
1. One partner has had an affair.
Whether it was physical or emotional, an affair can definitely put a strain on a relationship. The person in the relationship who was cheated on likely feels betrayed and might not trust his or her partner anymore. In couples therapy in Sterling, VA, a therapist can help two people discover the reasons behind the infidelity and may help them move forward in their relationship.
2. Every conversation ends in an argument.
While it is normal for couples to have disagreements every once in awhile, it is not healthy to argue about every little thing. If every conversation tends to end in an argument, it signals that something is wrong. Maybe both partners have unresolved anger with each other, or maybe the source of the anger is from something completely unrelated to the relationship. Sterling, VA couples therapy may help them determine the underlying reasons behind their arguments.
3. There are secrets.
If two people are in a healthy relationship, they should not feel the need to keep secrets from each other. When partners do not feel comfortable sharing certain information with each other, whether it has to do with finances or work, something’s not right. Couples therapy Sterling, Virginia families depend on may help them figure out why they have been keeping secrets from one another.
4. There is little to no physical intimacy.
A healthy sex life is important for every romantic relationship. It’s natural for sex to taper off once a couple has been together for a while, but this may still be an issue that older couples want to address. If physical intimacy has diminished in the relationship, it might be time for a couple to seek couples therapy Sterling, VA counts on. A therapist can help you figure out why your sex life is lacking and what you and your partner can do to fix it.
5. A traumatic event occurred.
Traumatic events, such as the death of a loved one or a job loss, can put a strain on a couple’s relationship. They may even blame one another for the event and become filled with anger. In Sterling couples therapy, a therapist may help a couple comes to terms with the traumatic event and suggest ways to move forward.
6. There are disagreements about finances.
Financial troubles break up a lot of relationships these days. If a couple isn’t on the same page with their finances, trouble can arise. In a couples therapy Sterling, VA depends on, a therapist may sit down with a couple and help them work out their financial disagreements.
There is no shame in seeking couples therapy. Every relationship takes work, but that’s what makes it worth it. If you want to find out more about couples therapy Sterling, VA has to offer, contact Lindsey Hoskins & Associates at 703-951-6409.