All Relationships Need Nurturing
Relationships are complex. They require a personal investment of time, energy, and care from everyone involved. This isn't always fun and exciting. Challenges are part of the experience, too. If you're having challenges now, it doesn't mean you're destined for failure. Any couple, wherever they are in their relationship, can benefit from healthy communication strategies, conflict resolution, and boundaries among other couples' interests.
CAPS provides brief couples counseling to U of A students by counselors specifically trained in couples therapy.
How Do I Prepare For Couples Counseling?
Before starting any kind of counseling, it helps to have an idea about your questions, concerns, or goals. Some people find it helpful to sit down with their partner(s) to make a list together, but that's not necessary. Everyone involved in the relationship doesn't need to have the same goals to benefit from couples counseling.
Questions you might ask yourself before you begin couples counseling are:
- How do I feel and how do I want to feel in this relationship?
- What patterns do I notice in the challenges we face?
- What's working well already?
- What drew us together in the first place?
- What keeps me in this relationship?
- How would I know when things were better?
How do I know if I need couples counseling?
Your relationship doesn't need to be in trouble to start couples counseling. Couples of all kinds at any relationship stage can benefit from having an objective person help you navigate common arguments or disagreements, communication patterns, decision-making, perspective-taking, and more. Whether you want to maintain all the positives of your relationship or want to learn how to work through something difficult together, couples counseling can help.
How Will My Relationship Benefit From Couples Counseling?
Couples counseling can be a rewarding and enlightening experience. You'll learn about yourself and your partner(s) and discover your relationship's unique strengths and opportunities for growth. People who attend couples counseling often notice a shift in their perceptions, emotional experiences, and patterns.