3 Ways to talk to your spouse about marriage counseling
Been struggling in your relationship and wanting to talk with your spouse about going to marriage counseling but aren’t sure how to go about it? Here are some ideas on how to approach the topic with your significant other.
Approaching Subject of Marriage Counseling with Your Spouse – Tip 1
Timing Matters
Find a time where you both aren’t running in and out of the house – to and from work. Or when you are juggling taking care of your children, managing household needs, and/or paying bills.
Find a time where it is just the both of you. Where you can give each other undivided attention.
Bringing Up Marriage Counseling with Your Spouse
Once you have a time when you both can talk, the next step is how you bring up the subject. Because this can be a sensitive topic, it’s important to communicate the intention of wanting help.
The intention being how much you love and care for each other and how you are looking for help in how to show this love in ways that connect and bond you.
Let your spouse know that going to see a marriage counselor is for the health of your relationship. It’s not about siding with one person over the other. Nor is it about saying one person is at fault and the other isn’t. It’s about helping you get to the heart of what’s causing pain in your relationship and to heal from that pain.
Listen and Ask Questions
When you’re having this important conversation, make sure each of you is open to hearing and listening to each other. It’s important that both of you can ask any questions you have and to be able to express any thoughts or concerns.
You might even want to look for a therapist together so that you both find a fit that’s right for you and your relationship. Keep in mind also that if you’re struggling with finding a time to schedule the appointment, online therapy could be an option.
Online marriage counseling can help couples that are wanting marriage counseling but have demanding schedules making it hard to find a time to meet face to face in a therapist’s office.
By: Anna McElearney, LMFT, LPC, NCC
*Blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only.
