Relationship counseling, also known as couples-therapy and marriage counseling, helps couples work through their specific relationship issues. It is led by licensed professionals — often licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) — who are experts in their field and best equipped to help couples. Some examples of common focuses within relationship counseling include:
- Jealousy
- Trust issues
- Infidelity
- Opposing values
- Different visions for the future
- Disagreements in parenting
- Lack of trust
- Financial distress
- Sex issues
Relationship counseling works by helping couples identify and better navigate their unique challenges. Following an initial assessment of the couple in terms of strengths and needs, the therapist would then discuss their therapeutic goals and any possible approaches or ways of working together as therapist and couple.
Couples attend sessions together, whether they meet in person or by video. In addition to regular couples therapy sessions, each partner may also be asked to attend a few individual sessions to supplement their progress. This will allow their counselor to get to know each individual better, assess each of their personal needs, and develop the very best treatment plan moving forward.
On average, couples attend relationship counseling for 12 weeks. However, relationship counseling may last longer or shorter, dependent on the couples’ needs, the challenges they’d like to work through, and the pace of their progress.
Relationship Counseling: Healthy Boundaries in Tucson, AZ
Understanding and establishing healthy boundaries is crucial for improving intimate relationships, friendships, coworker interactions, and most importantly, your relationship with yourself.
At Thriveworks in Tucson, AZ, we provide relationship counseling to help you develop and maintain these boundaries, fostering healthier and more fulfilling connections. Call us today at (520) 231-2358.
What Are Healthy Boundaries?
Boundaries in relationships refer to the awareness of your internal thoughts and emotions and how you react to these internal states. According to psychologist and author Pat Ogden:
“Healthy boundaries enable us to separate our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from those of other people, so we do not blame others for our feelings, thoughts, or behavior, and we do not take responsibility for the feelings, thoughts, or behaviors of others.”
Developing a clear sense of self involves understanding where your personal emotions, needs, and wants end and where another’s begin. It also involves learning to say “no” when you mean “no” and “yes” when you mean “yes,” while allowing others to do the same.
Signs of Poor Boundaries in Relationships
- Avoiding verbalizing feelings and needs due to fear of causing disappointment or conflict
- Difficulty differentiating personal feelings from the emotions of others
- Struggling to say “no” and feeling overwhelmed by your own emotions and others’ emotions
- Overly rigid and inflexible sense of independence or over-protectiveness of personal space
- Preference for distance in relationships and difficulty with trust and intimacy
- Explosive, defensive, and non-productive expressions of feelings with no resolution after conflict
Tips for Developing Healthy Boundaries
- Use Mindfulness: Observe the physical sensations of your emotions as if watching a movie. Notice what sensations arise with anger, fear, sadness, or anxiety (e.g., hotness in the face, increased heart rate, heaviness in the chest) and with happiness, excitement, or contentedness.
- Communicate Emotions Clearly: Once you understand what your emotions feel like, you can communicate them more confidently and with less overwhelm. For example, say, “When I heard you yell, I felt my heart jump, which means I was scared.”
- Breathe: If physical and emotional closeness feels overwhelming, take a breath and assess your reaction. Determine if it is overly protective and defensive or reasonable. If defensive, breathe into the sensation of vulnerability and reassure yourself that it’s okay to trust.
- Practice Daily Meditation: A daily meditation practice can help you develop a stronger understanding of your inner world. Consider finding a meditation class or talking to a qualified professional to discuss your experiences and identify unhealthy patterns and the causes of disconnection.
Schedule Relationship Counseling in Tucson, AZ
If you’re ready to establish healthy boundaries and improve your relationships, consider relationship counseling at Thriveworks in Tucson, AZ. Our qualified professionals are here to help you understand and implement healthy boundaries in your life.
Contact us today at (520) 231-2358 to schedule your appointment and take the first step towards healthier, more fulfilling relationships.
