Who Qualifies for Couples Therapy?

A woman with a notebook gestures toward a couple sitting across from her. This could represent the support couples therapy in Tigard, OR can offer for your relationship. Learn more about relationship therapy in Tigard, OR, and forms of therapy in Tigard, OR.

You might be thinking that couples therapy is for those who are on the brink of divorce or who are deeply hurting from a wound in their relationship. While this is most certainly true, it also isn’t the whole picture. Couples therapy also acts as a preventive measure in relationships to help adjust, sharpen and maintain healthy dynamics.

For example, I’ve worked with newlyweds who are not experiencing any major conflicts in their relationship but identified some patterns of communication that had them stuck having the same argument on repeat and needed help sorting through it. Whether you feel utterly defeated and hopeless in your relationship or looking to refine your communication skills, couples counseling offers a space for you to process, learn, evaluate and grow.

The Role of the Therapist

The therapist's role is similar to that of working with an individual. There are times they will empathize, educate and reflect on observations. One fear that I hear in my practice with couples is the fear that the therapist will take sides and will lose objectivity. The reflection of observations brings awareness to the dynamics circulating in the relationship and can often feel intimidating or threatening to hear.

A close up of a woman taking notes while sitting across from a concerned woman. This could symbolize the support offered by an online therapist in Oregon. Learn more about the support couples therapy in Tigard, OR can offer by searching for other forms of therapy in Tigard, OR.

It’s in these moments that an individual in the relationship may feel the therapist is “taking sides”. However, it’s important to remember that the therapist is just reflecting and bringing to awareness what is already happening in the relationship. In other words, the therapist is holding each partner accountable, a needed component for the desired change to take place. 

What You’ll Gain

There is nothing magical about stepping foot into a therapist’s office that will change your relationship. Much like individual therapy, it takes intention, work, awareness, and the willingness to engage in and outside of the counseling office. If you choose to take advantage of what the counseling process has to offer your relationship you can expect to gain:

  • Tools for improving communication and a space to practice them
  • Insights about yourself that impact how you interact in the relationship
  • Insights about your partner that impact how they interact within the relationship
  • Accountability
  • Identification of needs and wants in the relationship
  • Healthy boundaries
  • Conflict resolution

If you’ve been debating the idea of couples therapy, I’d encourage you to take the next step and reach out to one of our many therapists who are ready to support, challenge and facilitate space for change in your relationship!

Begin Couples Therapy in Tigard, OR

A couple smiles at one another while sitting on a picnic blanket in a park. Learn how relationship therapy in Tigard, OR can support the bond between you and your partner. Search “couples counseling Tigard, OR” to learn more today.

Improving your relationship isn't something you have to do alone. Our team of caring therapists would be honored to help address the wide spectrum of concerns that couples face. We are happy to offer in-person and online therapy services across Oregon. You can start your therapy journey with Discover Counseling by following these simple steps:

  1. Contact us to speak with a mental health professional at Discover Counseling
  2. Schedule your first counseling appointment with our team
  3. Get support as you stop running away and start moving forward.

Other Counseling Services That We Offer in Tigard, OR

Our caring counselors and therapists offer different types of therapy services to support your needs. Such as therapy for anxiety, trauma recovery, life transitions, and postpartum support. As well as teen therapy, Christian counseling, and codependency treatment. We also offer support for your relationship with premarital, couples, and marriage counseling. Plus individual therapy for relationship problems.