Can counseling help a toxic relationship?

Possibly. Counseling can help in difficult relationship issues at times, but it depends on the toxicity. If the relationship is abusive, then a counseling professional will probably encourage you to really consider whether the relationship is too harmful to continue.

Outside of abuse, how might counseling help in a toxic relationship then? Well, many times, a couple can get into poor patterns in a relationship. For instance, in a long-term relationship where both people live together but work long hours in their careers, they may forget about the other person. The partner who has been forgotten may resent the other person for not feeling like they are a priority. A counseling professional can help both people understand that needs are not being met and that communication must be opened back up between them.

In fact, many toxic relationships suffer from a lack of communication and poor communication in general. Counseling professionals who have experience working with couples will know this area. They can teach both people more effective communication skills. By learning new ways to communicate their needs, couples can become stronger and less toxic in their interactions.

Finally, many people in toxic relationships find that they have developed poor habits over time, but sometimes couples do not see these habits as harmful to the relationship. A counseling professional can help point out these interactions. Having insight into how we interact in relationships is incredibly important but easy to forget or ignore. 

If you find yourself in a toxic relationship, reach out for help. Not every single counselor is comfortable or experienced in working with couples. Still, many will recognize the signs of a toxic relationship. Hopefully, they can help you find the resources you need to change the relationship pattern into a much more positive and loving one. We all deserve to be in a happy, healthy relationship where everyone is respected and loved. There is no shame in asking for professional help in reducing toxicity in a relationship.