Couples therapy techniques focus on building communication skills to improve the quality of a relationship. It also helps couples identify and discuss unhealthy dynamics in the relationship. In addition, it addresses issues such as finances, religion, and values. It is often used as a preventative measure to help couples hone their communication skills, explore core values, and build positive emotional attachments.
While the most prominent approaches to couple couples therapy techniques counseling vary in their theoretical bases, there is an emerging and substantial convergence of specific intervention methods across these diverse models. This reflects cross-pollination of wise ideas (often referred to as “cross-fertilization” in the field) and powerful pragmatic concerns that arise regardless of orientation, such as managing spiraling angry interactions, engaging the less invested partner in therapy, promoting effective and lasting change, or working with comorbid individual emotional or physical health problems.
Most contemporary approaches operationalize couple therapy as uniquely involving conjoint sessions with the two relationship partners. Exceptions are typically limited to situations where one or both of the partners may feel uncomfortable discussing their individual feelings in the presence of their partner, such as infidelity or intimate partner violence. In such cases, it is common for therapists to offer to conduct separate individual sessions for one or both of the individuals.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, many of the traditional couple therapy interventions required considerable modification to address unprecedented levels of stress and strained relationships. For example, some therapists conducted individual interviews for each member of the couple in order to provide them with the opportunity to discuss sensitive topics that they did not feel comfortable discussing in front of their partner (such as considerations regarding divorce). Whether these additional considerations are related to the pandemic or not, it is clear that many couples are experiencing new challenges in their relationships that require fresh insights and creative therapeutic strategies.
Although the common perception is that couples counseling is only for distressed relationships, it can be beneficial for healthy couples who want to deepen their connection or resolve conflicts. A therapist can teach them ways to talk more clearly, listen actively, and develop empathy. They can also help them work through issues such as financial disagreements or infidelity. They can also help them identify and replace negative behaviors that interfere with closeness, such as criticism, defensiveness, or stonewalling. Moreover, attending weekly counseling sessions creates a safe space where each person can share their thoughts and feelings without fear of being judged or attacked by the other. This increases trust and allows them to be more open about their needs. They can even begin to understand their partner’s perspective more deeply over the course of several counseling sessions. As a result, their friendship grows and they are able to appreciate each other more fully. This can have a positive impact on their long-term relationship. This article provides an overview of some of the main couple counseling approaches and their most commonly employed techniques.