Marriage counseling offers help in one of the most central relationships in people’s lives. At Mansfield Christian Counseling we want to support you and your spouse to have a healthy, loving, and safe relationship. As you consider marriage counseling, it is helpful to understand what it is, how it helps, and what to expect.
Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(469) 333-6163
Marriage counseling offers the help and support of a professional counselor for any issues you are working through in your marriage. It offers a place to work through struggles, concerns, and questions with the ultimate goal of improving your relationship.
Often short-term, marriage counseling frequently ranges from a few sessions to months with the help of a trained person, often a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) to help you and your spouse address your concerns. The therapists at Mansfield Christian Counseling are trained to support you and your partner as you identify and address the things making the marriage unsatisfactory for one or both of you.
Marriage counseling can help you and your spouse develop a more fulfilling marriage that is healthy and enjoyable for both of you as you grow together.
While we would all love to believe marriages are thriving all the time, the reality is that every marriage goes through challenges. Some of these are things you work out on your own in daily life, while others require more support.
The relationship you have with your spouse is one of the most important relationships you will ever have. Finding the tools to help you in this relationship is why marriage counseling is important. Marriage counseling can provide the help you and your partner need.
Counseling with a professional allows you to work through issues in a safe, guided environment. Rather than addressing problems between the two of you or not at all, marriage counseling offers the chance to work through these things with support. A counselor can offer help, resources, and solutions to help you and your spouse.
A typical marriage counseling approach brings both spouses together to work through their issues with a therapist. This type of joint therapy is the most central part of marriage counseling as it offers a safe, helpful space to both partners at the same time.
In marriage counseling, spouses can address struggles, feelings, and goals for moving forward. People have a variety of reactions and responses during counseling sessions. A counselor can help guide both of you as you navigate everything from talking, silence, anger, tears, and more.
The most beneficial aspect of marriage counseling is that the therapist is neutral, and there to support both parties. He or she does not take sides. Instead, he or she offers support and guidance as you and your spouse work toward a healthier relationship.
While talking through things is a common part of therapy, there are many ways counselors can offer help. Some possibilities include:
- Talking through issues
- Taking turns sharing
- Using “I” statements
- Role-playing activities
- Homework activities
Your counselor will work with both you and your spouse to find the most helpful things. These activities can help you feel comfortable sharing, find solutions, and learn new strategies that will help your marriage.
Some concerns require additional support from medical professionals or programs that can help with physical concerns, addiction issues, or even more involved mental health concerns. Your counselor will walk with you and your spouse through any of these interventions to offer support.
Weekly one-hour sessions are the most common approach, although some situations benefit from more frequent or longer sessions. The counselors at Mansfield Christian Counseling will help you and your spouse find the plan that works best for you to help you reach your goals.
Marriage counseling is for anything that affects you or your spouse in your marriage. This can be an array of issues, concerns, or questions. Sometimes couples have a specific issue in mind when they seek counseling. Other times, they simply want help to improve communication or feel closer.
Don’t be alarmed if one partner feels more strongly about going to counseling than the other. As you pursue therapy, your counselor will help you both work through things in a way that feels comfortable. That doesn’t mean it won’t be challenging, but the counselor will help meet each person where they are to help navigate the situation in a mutually beneficial way.
One of the best parts of counseling is that you can come as you are. You don’t need to fix anything or figure things out before you come. The counseling process will help you and offers support in whatever areas you need it most.
Some examples of issues addressed in marriage counseling are:
- Handling specific disagreements
- Addressing infidelity
- Parenting concerns
- Financial struggles
- Addictions such as alcohol, drugs, food, shopping, and pornography
- Intimacy
- Sexual concerns or differences
- Individual responsibilities within the home or family
- Arguing and communication issues
- Transitions such as moving, a new job, or an empty nest
- Grief
- Trauma
- Handling diagnoses
- Religious differences
- Repeated conflicts
- Jealousy
- Lack of trust
- Low self-esteem
- Eating disorders
- Medical issues
The list of things people talk about in marriage counseling is as varied as the people who seek help. The counselors at Mansfield Christian Counseling are trained to work with you and your spouse to handle whatever you are struggling with so you can have a better marriage.
You’ve already taken the first step! Learning about marriage counseling from a professional resource such as Mansfield Christian Counseling is a great way to start the process of seeking a healthier marriage.
Next, you should think about why you are considering marriage counseling. Think about what you are looking for and why. This may start with your own private reasons, but also consider why you want this for your marriage. You don’t need to figure this out completely, but it is worth considering as you get started.
Now it is time to do some research to find a counselor you and your partner will feel comfortable with. Talking to people you trust that have gone to counseling is a great way to find recommendations.
Also, think about the type of person your spouse will feel comfortable with. Think about different formats such as in-person versus online counseling. What will work best for your schedule and lifestyle?
As you begin this journey, you don’t need to find the perfect person. You just need to get started with someone that feels right. If you need to change counselors, you can. But give it a few sessions first.
Talk to your spouse about counseling. Don’t bring it up in the middle of a heated argument. Instead, choose a time when you are both calm and discuss why you think counseling could help. It is good to talk about the things that you and your spouse both want for your marriage. For example, less arguing and better communication are goals some couples work toward.
If your partner is not interested in counseling, you can always start by seeing a therapist yourself. Individual counseling can help you work through things on your own until your partner is ready to pursue marriage counseling with you.
Sometimes getting started is the hardest step. But the hardest steps can also be the most rewarding. Consider what you have to gain in seeking professional help for your marriage.
At Mansfield Christian Counseling we can help develop more effective communication, a stronger bond, strategies for handling reoccurring issues, and more. Our counselors are trained to help you find ways to thrive in your marriage with professional tools from a spiritual foundation.
Make an appointment with one of our counselors and start on the journey toward a healthier marriage today.
Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(469) 333-6163
