When to End Couples Therapy?

By: Lisa Bower

Couples therapy is a great way for you and your loved one to talk to one another with the help of a trained professional. However, you don't want to beat a dead horse: If couples counseling isn't working, then it might be time to not only end the counseling but possibly your relationship. It's good to try and work things out, but you don't want to force things.

Why did the two of you go into counseling in the first place? Did you have problems talking to one another or did you fight a lot? If the problems between you and your loved one haven't been improved with time or with counseling, then it might be time to end couples counseling. Progress is the sign of a relationship on the mend, but if there is no progress, it could mean that the counseling isn't helping the two of you.

Additionally, if one of you is more into couples therapy than the other, then this could be a sign the two of you should stop counseling. Each party needs to be 100% invested in the counseling and in improving your relationship. If one of you isn't committed, it's not only going to negatively affect the counseling but could also be a major red flag for your relationship.

Think about whether you each have taken responsibility for the past. Each person needs to take responsibility for the relationship, and if one person refuses to do this even after extensive couples therapy, it could mean it's time to stop and reassess the situation.

How do the two of you feel when you leave counseling? If you leave feeling worse than when you entered over half of the time, it can be a sign that it's not working or it's not helping your relationship. It's normal to have some intense counseling sessions, but they shouldn't all end in fighting or tears.

Consider how and when you talk to one another. If the two of you have little to say outside of couples therapy or do not talk about the counseling at home, then this is a sign it may not be helping. Counseling is a chance to learn how to communicate with one another in healthy and productive ways. You don't want to pretend as if there is nothing wrong, and you don't want to ignore one another either.

Related Life123 Articles

You and your loved one may need some guidance when it comes to navigating the tricky waters that govern a relationship's course. If you and your partner can admit there is a need for conflict resolution, couples counseling could help the two of you patch things up.

Knowing how to kiss and make up after a fight is important in strengthening your relationship.Bickering, arguing and full-blown verbal battles are simply a part of life for any relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions on Ask.com
More Related Life123 Articles

Anger management tips can help a person keep their job and can strengthen or improve the relationships in one's life.

After an argument, apologizing can be tough. Many people have a hard time swallowing their pride or are confused about how to begin, which leads to more relationship problems. Apologizing takes time and thought: You have to be sure you mean it before you express remorse.

Conflict resolution techniques will help your relationship remain happy and healthy, despite the expected bumps in the road.

Answers Partner Sites: Ask Answers  |  Kids Answers  |  Ask How-To  |  Reference Answers  |  Life123 Answers  |  GardenandHearth Answers
Partner Sites: Insider Pages  |  MerchantCircle  |  Urbanspoon  |  Ask Kids  |  Thesaurus
© 2012 Life123, Inc. All rights reserved. An IAC Company