"Therapy is just for people with big problems or mental illnesses."

But that can’t be farther from the truth. Therapy can benefit anyone no matter where they're at in their relationship. In this article, we'll explore how therapy can be a boon for those who feel their relationship isn’t what it used to be.

Why Do Relationships Falter?

Communication is the backbone of any relationship. It's what helps us build and keep the emotional connection strong. But when communication fails, things can go south really quickly. It can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations, which in turn, lead to confusion, frustration, and a breakdown in trust.

For example, if one person isn't clear in expressing themselves, the other person might assume the worst and react accordingly, causing problems in the relationship.

Effective communication requires active listening and empathy, which are key components of being able to understand and respect the other person. When individuals are not able to see things from different perspectives, the consequence can be detrimental to a relationship. Let’s look at an example.

Conflict Scenario: A common situation where couples can end up in conflict due to poor communication is when one partner feels unappreciated or neglected. Let's say you are doing the majority of the household chores, but your partner is not showing enough gratitude.

You start to feel undervalued and begin to resent your partner for not acknowledging their efforts. Over time, frustration builds up, and eventually, you might lash out or express your feelings in a hurtful way. Meanwhile, your partner may not even realize that their behavior caused a problem and may become defensive when confronted.

These situations where tension builds up quietly until pressure is suddenly released in a bad way are all too common in relationships. During this process, the connection between the two of you can suffer great damage as resentment is a very powerful emotion that easily strips away feelings of love.

How Will Therapy Help?

A therapist would approach the above situation by helping you and your partner understand each other's perspectives and needs. They would provide a safe and neutral environment where the two of you can express your thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment.

The therapist would facilitate and emphasize active listening, which helps both parties to fully understand and empathize with each other. Having a mediator who can enforce active listening is important since people tend to default back to their old ways of communication very quickly.

Among a number of other aspects, a good therapist would help you identify the underlying causes of the conflict, work with you to develop healthy communication patterns, help you understand the impact of your actions on each other, and find new ways to show appreciation and support.

Going through such an experience in therapy can be one of the most important moments of your relationship.

This is especially true in today’s modern world, where the stress and strain of life can be so detrimental to a relationship. Finding couples therapists who can work with you and your partner is one of the best investments you can put into your relationship.

These days, even one’s location doesn’t matter as much. With technology, you are able to find great therapists and have sessions with them online and in the comfort of your own home. This means that if you are a busy New Yorker and can’t deal with traffic, online sessions can make therapy possible for you.

Or, if you are someone who isn’t satisfied with the quality of the therapists around you, then online therapy allows you to get in contact with the best therapists in the country. Once you feel they are the right person for you, you can then decide if you want to have a few in-person sessions as well.

The Beauty of Accountability

We live in a world where knowledge is more or less free. The internet has given people the ability to access humanity’s collective knowledge in a way that no one in the past has ever had before. Why do colleges and universities still exist in this age, then? It surely can’t just be about having an organized and structured pattern of content, right?

The key is accountability.

It has been proven over and over that accountability is one of the chief factors that bring about success in any area of life. Sure, there are some people who are really self-motivated and can achieve greatness all by themselves, but they make the exception and not the rule. Accountability can be a boon in a relationship.

Most people in a relationship start off being accountable and respectful. However, somewhere down the line, the mix of familiarity and blandness can cause people to put in less and less effort until the point where even if they want to change a pattern of behavior, they find it difficult.

A therapist comes into play wonderfully here and provides an external source of accountability for the two of you and then gradually helps you rediscover accountability with each other.

Conclusion

Relationships are tough. There’s no doubt about that.

They require consistent effort or run the risk of becoming a breeding ground of resentment and bitterness. Finding a good couples therapist and engaging in enriching therapy sessions is like visiting a doctor. You want to see them before your problem gets too serious.

Taking steps to work on your relationship in this way is always worth the effort and can save you a lot of pain and unhappiness in the long run.