Individual Relationship Counseling
Posted: October 19, 2024
By: Natasha Cooke, MS, LPC Associate
Supervised by Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S
Individual Issues May Need to Be Worked Through First
Many of my clients that have come into my office have never been in counseling before. This often means they have unresolved individual issues that can be underlying factors contributing to hardships in the relationship. For instance, one or both partners may have a background of trauma or abuse. Others may face self-esteem or body image issues. Additionally, one or both partners may have a mental health condition that they need individual treatment for, such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and ADHD, to name a few.
Individual Sessions May Be Your Only Option for Getting Relationship Help
Individual counseling that focuses on relationships can teach one partner much of what they need to know to improve their relationship despite only one person being there. As I stated earlier, many partners refuse therapy. However, research, strategies, resources, and tips you learn in individual sessions can later be relayed to your partner. Even if your partner refuses to listen to what you have learned in therapy, you can still learn enough on your own to make significant changes in your relationship. After all, there is typically always something for both parties to improve upon. For example, some areas covered in relationship counseling may include how you can safely bring up topics to your partner that are areas of concern, how to express your wants and needs in an effective and direct way, and how to express your love for your partner in a way in which they will appreciate.
Individual Relationship Counseling
If you want to improve your relationship or marriage but your partner is refusing to go to couples therapy, this article is for you. So, you’ve heard of couples therapy, also termed marriage counseling, but have you considered individual counseling that focuses on your relationship?Considering Individual Relationship Counseling for Relationship Issues
While it may seem most beneficial for both partners to attend therapy, it’s not always feasible. There may be time commitment issues or other reasons both parties cannot attend therapy. More commonly, people may refuse to seek treatment despite their partner asking or begging them to go to couples counseling. The sad reality is that, unfortunately, many individuals are still not open to receiving professional mental health support. However, thankfully, that does not mean that you cannot seek out treatment yourself to improve your relationship.3 Reasons Seeking Treatment Alone May Still Help Your Marriage or Relationship
As a relationship and couples counselor myself, I can tell you that I often recommend that my clients participate in individual counseling before or during the course of couples therapy treatment. There are many reasons for this, some of which I will detail below.Individual Issues May Need to Be Worked Through First
Many of my clients that have come into my office have never been in counseling before. This often means they have unresolved individual issues that can be underlying factors contributing to hardships in the relationship. For instance, one or both partners may have a background of trauma or abuse. Others may face self-esteem or body image issues. Additionally, one or both partners may have a mental health condition that they need individual treatment for, such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and ADHD, to name a few.
Individual Relationship Counseling Can Be Helpful in Untangling Your Thoughts
Second, clients often find individual sessions helpful in allowing them to understand and gather their thoughts so they can be discussed later in couple’s therapy. For instance, sometimes partners are unsure of how to bring up a concern in the relationship without hurting their partner’s feelings. Individual sessions allow clients to freely discuss what’s on their mind without fear of hurting their partner. Therapists can help clients pinpoint the healthiest way to bring up a topic of concern or to state a want or need to their partner.Individual Sessions May Be Your Only Option for Getting Relationship Help
Individual counseling that focuses on relationships can teach one partner much of what they need to know to improve their relationship despite only one person being there. As I stated earlier, many partners refuse therapy. However, research, strategies, resources, and tips you learn in individual sessions can later be relayed to your partner. Even if your partner refuses to listen to what you have learned in therapy, you can still learn enough on your own to make significant changes in your relationship. After all, there is typically always something for both parties to improve upon. For example, some areas covered in relationship counseling may include how you can safely bring up topics to your partner that are areas of concern, how to express your wants and needs in an effective and direct way, and how to express your love for your partner in a way in which they will appreciate.
Begin Therapy in Katy, TX!
If you are ready to start working on improving your relationship, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:- Contact our office to set up an appointment or to learn more information
- Meet with one of our knowledgeable therapists
- Find ways to thrive through therapy today!