Do We Need Couples Therapy?
If you’ve found yourself here, chances are you’ve just had another big argument with your partner that didn’t feel great. Or maybe things have felt off for a while, and you’re wondering whether this is the right relationship for you. Every relationship goes through rough patches, and it’s normal to question whether yours is worth working on or whether couples therapy might help. Far from a last-ditch effort to save a struggling relationship, couples therapy is common and can benefit couples - even those with relatively few issues.
Do We Need Couples Therapy? Our Quiz
Trudy Jacobsen
Trudy Jacobsen is a highly experienced counsellor with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and couples with her warm, grounded and outcome-driven approach. She is available for new clients for in-person appointments in Booval, Brisbane as well as online video appointments.
https://lifesupportscounselling.com.au/counsellors/trudy-jacobsen/
- Master of Social Work
- Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
- Member of the AASW
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Open 8am to 8pm weekdays and 9am to 5:30pm weekends
Not Sure What Your Results Mean?
Whatever your results, the fact that you're both willing to ask the question is a good sign, not a bad one. Curiosity about the state of your relationship isn't a red flag, it's a sign that you still care enough to want to understand it better.
If you scored on the lower end, that doesn't mean there's nothing to work on. Every relationship has patterns worth strengthening, even the solid ones. If you scored higher, that doesn't mean things are beyond repair either. It just means there are some real patterns worth addressing sooner rather than later, and the good news is that they're addressable.
How Relationship Counselling Can Help
What does relationship counselling actually look like? While many of us have an image of couples therapy in our minds - often shaped unhelpfully by Hollywood films - the reality can be quite different. Relationship counselling provides a neutral space where you and your partner can work through recurring patterns, and develop strategies to communicate and move forward in a more productive and satisfying way. Your counsellor will work with you to help facilitate difficult conversations, address unhelpful behaviours, and support you in rebuilding the connection that brought you and your partner together in the first place.
At Life Supports, we will match you with a counsellor based on your need and preferences, as well as their experience and areas of expertise. To learn more or arrange a time to chat, call us on 1300 735 030 or get in touch via our contact page. We’re here to help, 7 days a week.
FAQs
Couples therapy can be a valuable tool for helping partners work through difficult periods, improve communication, and develop healthier ways of relating to one another. It can also provide valuable insight, helping couples better understand their relationship and decide whether they want to continue working on it or go their separate ways.
You can attend couples therapy without your partner; individual sessions can be a valuable opportunity to explore your relationship, better understand your own needs and behaviours, and work towards positive change.
How long relationship counselling takes varies from person to person and from couple to couple. While standard sessions generally run for 50-60 minutes, your psychologist or counsellor may suggest a longer, 90-minute session initially to allow more time for exploration and discussion.
When it comes to the number of sessions required, this will depend on your individual needs and goals, and your therapist will work with you to determine what’s appropriate. As a general guide, Life Supports believes meaningful behavioural change can begin within 4-6 sessions, with progress often enriched by 8, 10 or more sessions where appropriate.