What’s effective couples therapy?
Effective couples therapy can mean different things to different people. For some, it might mean:
- Did couples therapy work for them.
- Has it helped them stay together in their relationship.
- Help them rebuild trust and betrayals in their marriage.
- Bring them closer together.
- Allow for more emotional and physical intimacy between them.
These can be markers for many couples as to whether couples therapy was effective.
But for others, effective couples therapy depends on if it is evidenced based. Meaning, does the couples therapist work from an evidenced based approach. An approach that is based in research.
And for others, it’s both.
- Does the therapist have training in evidenced based couples therapy?
- Is the therapist/client relationship a good fit?
Whichever way you view the effectiveness of couples therapy, it’s all good! And, I’d like to take what you already consider helpful and offer some other considerations…
When looking for a couples therapist.
It’s important to know if your therapist is a couples therapist. If their training is in couples therapy.
Couples therapists undergo significant training in relationship dynamics. They are focused on helping couples through patterns that come up between them.
This is what couples therapists do.
It’s different training than individual therapy. So, it might be helpful to talk to your therapist about how they are trained if you are looking for couples therapy.
Effective Couples Therapy & Communication
Effective couples therapy often involves changing the interplay of how couples talk to each other. How couples understand and relate to each other.
Effective couples therapy can help couples learn new ways to communicate with each other that feels healthier. Allowing each to hear what the other is saying/communicating.
Communication that prevents circular arguments that in the past have caused distance instead of closeness. Have shut down doors between them instead of increasing intimacy and bonding.
Couple Therapy Training of Anna McElearney?
I’m trained as a couples therapist and I specialize in couples therapy.
I am trained in different models of couples therapy: PACT, Gottman and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. And I consider myself an Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist. I have dedicated many hours – and continue to do so – to deepen my training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, created by Dr. Sue Johnson, is a way of being with couples that can help spouses/partners truly understand patterns and cycles causing continuous emotional strain and distance between them. It is an evidenced based approach and one that I have found extremely effective when helping couples.
Of course, couples must commit to the process and want change. The work is both in and out of session. And for couples that are ready, it can be very healing and uniting.
Living in Austin, TX, and wanting to find a couples therapist
If you’re in Austin, Tx, and looking for a trained couples therapist, contact me today. Together, we can determine your specific relationship needs and begin to work toward changing your relationship to meet the needs of both you and your partner.
By: Anna McElearney, LMFT, LPC, NCC
*Blog intended for educational and informational purposes only.
