Couples Therapy Exercises – Exercise That’s Fun!
Quick! – What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Couples Therapy Exercises?
Do you think…hmmm….sounds like fun! Sign me up!!
Well, I hope so! If this isn’t the first thing that popped into your mind, my hope is this will change after reading more about some ways couple therapy exercises can help your relationship.
So, let’s jump in.
The first couples therapy exercise is identification of a mentor couple!
Couples Therapy Exercises # 1
What’s a mentor couple, you might be thinking? Great question…
When I first heard about this idea I thought…how supportive and beneficial!
It’s an idea that you might already be doing but didn’t realize it had a name. Or, it could be a new idea that intrigues you…
A mentor couple is a real or fictional couple that you look up to as a model for how to have a healthy, satisfying, and happy relationship. They can be a couple that you know personally. Or, they can be a couple you admire in stories or literature. Or, a couple you’ve seen depicted in movies or on television shows.
Mentor Couples Can be Real or Fictional
Real or fictional – these couples offer ways of relating to the ones they love in a manner that’s nurturing, caring, and supportive.
I first heard of this term through my training under Dr. Stan Tatkin, developer of PACT, Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy. After learning about this idea, I quickly realized how wonderfully helpful this is for couples. It can help model togetherness. It can help model what it looks like when couples put their relationship first.
As you explore couples therapy exercises #1 in your own life, I encourage you to think about who might be your mentor couple. If you have more than one, that’s great. And if you have one, that’s also great!
First…
- Talk with your spouse or partner about this idea
- Become aware of what qualities you both are looking for in a mentor couple
- Begin to observe couples you know, books you’ve read, or shows you’ve watched to determine what meets your needs
Then…
- Start slowly implementing these qualities into your relationship
- Be patient with each other as you are learning new skills, behaviors, and ways of communicating with each other
- Enjoy the process and have fun
Couples Therapy Exercises #2
Couples therapy exercises #2 looks at the idea of being “married singles”.
Married singles is the idea that you are in a committed relationship yet function as if you’re single.
Important Distinction: being a “married single” couple might be preferred by some couples. What works for some couples might not work for other couples – that’s why it’s important to note what is working for your specific relationship.
If being married single is not working in your relationship, then this is a couples therapy exercise worth looking into.
Here are just a few examples of what married single might look like:
- When you think about what’s best for the relationship, you’re actually thinking about what’s best for you
- Spending most of your free time without each other versus with each other
- Not making your spouse or partner the first person you talk with about important issues or events
If you realize this is a couples therapy exercise worth exploring in your relationship, I would recommend:
- First – becoming aware of how prevalent this is in your relationship
- Then – once you have an idea of how it looks in your relationship, you and your partner can talk openly about what’s working and what you’d like to change
Couples Therapy Exercises – Help is Available
Sometimes couples want help entering into these couples therapy exercises. This is where seeing a skilled couples therapist or marriage counselor can help.
If you live in or around Austin, TX, and are looking for a couples therapist, marriage counselor, or individual therapist to help with relationship concerns, please consider contacting me today. All you have to do is complete this form and I will get back with you.
*Blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only.
