Can marriage counseling make things worse

Can marriage counseling make things worse? When you are engaging in any therapeutic journey, there can be both positive and negative outcomes. Of course, in the case of marriage counseling, this is true as well. While the goal of marriage counseling is often to “save” the marriage or the relationship, there are other positives that can come from it, such as learning more about yourself and what you would like from a relationship, but there can also be negatives. In a relationship, one thing to remember is that even when you are giving 100% of yourself and your energy, you are still only 50% of the relationship. There is a lot that is dependent on your “other half” regarding whether the outcome will be what you are hoping for.

Marriage counseling is a good place to open the lines of communication that may have stalled at home in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. This can be a place where information can be shared, and the therapist can help facilitate positive feedback and help to educate on healthy communication. It is important to have an idea of the ultimate goal of marriage counseling and be honest throughout the process. Keep in mind that when asking questions of your partner in this environment, you may get a response you do not want to hear. It is important to make sure you are ready for the answer when asking difficult or sensitive questions.

Marriage counseling can be a good place to get conversations started; however, remember while this is a starting point. Eventually, you and your partner will be leaving the therapist's office- what will happen then? Good communication can follow, but so can various feelings, especially if sensitive subjects were discussed. It is important to keep this in mind throughout the process and if there are concerns about how things will be handled after the session, address this before the session ends. It is never a bad idea to have a plan in place for tough situations.

At the end of the therapeutic journey, even if the relationship cannot be saved, it is always good to look for the lessons learned. Maybe this is not the outcome you desired; however, hopefully, you came out with a better version of yourself.