Every couple can benefit from the nonjudgmental assistance of a couples therapist.
Transition periods in a relationship may be especially difficult for couples to manage on their own.
Changes are exciting. Moving in together, getting married, and starting a family are fun experiences. Changes like this are also very stressful.
Transitions trigger our fears. They show us our differences. Things that neither of you knew were an issue can arise and provoke problems.
A couples therapist can help you navigate the transitions with ease.
Counseling is beneficial before big changes occur. Continuing through transitions will help to navigate difficult times. Do you have any of the following big transitions coming up?
1. Moving in Together Has Unexpected Surprises
Living together offers many wonderful moments of domestic bliss. Cooking together, sharing a shower, and sleeping next to one another are cozy. A lot of intimacy opens up when you agree to share space with one another.
However, many issues also arise with moving in together. Couples may think they have a lot in common only to discover a big gap in the way each does everyday things. Things that can challenge your patience include:
Dividing chores
Balancing “together” and “alone” time
Adjusting to your partner’s sleep-wake cycle
Choosing when and how to communicate about issues
Counseling can help you set expectations before you move in together. Your couples therapist can point out common issues and help you discuss them. After the move, as new challenges arise, therapy can continue to support your growth as a couple.
2. Getting Married Creates New Challenges
Whether or not you live together first, marriage presents a new set of challenges for couples. Many people have underlying expectations of what a marriage is, and they mistakenly assume that their partners feel the same way.
Sometimes we, as individuals, haven’t even unearthed those issues for ourselves, so we can’t communicate them adequately. Our partners don’t live up to what we expect, and we feel disappointed. Individual and couples counseling help you define and discuss those expectations.
Pre-marital counseling is also important for sifting through major marriage issues. Many couples feel stress about combining finances. Other common stressors include where you will live, how you will deal with job changes, and what role your in-laws will play in your lives.
You can anticipate and cope with many of your marriage problems in advance. When new challenges arise, you’ll have the foundation that you need to discuss issues and deal with them productively.
3. Starting a Family Triggers New Fears
Having child brings up concerns for many people. You may experience triggers from your own childhood that you thought had been resolved long ago. These unprocessed events from an earlier time can put a big strain on a relationship.
Problems can arise long before the children are even in the picture. People have different ideas about when to have children, how many to have, and even how to have them (through adoption, for example).
It’s never too early to get help from a couples therapist in this area. Bring your fears and doubts into the therapy room. Work together to find ways to create a family that feels right to everyone involved.
Once you have children, they will provide you with many learning opportunities that further challenge your relationship. However, having done the work ahead of time, you and your partner will be better prepared to work through those issues. You won’t always be on the same page, but you’ll know how to get there together.
Sometimes problems in a relationship make it is obvious that you need to see a couples therapist. It is less obvious that you should go when things are going well for you and your partner. Still, notice the transitions in your lives, and don’t hesitate to reach out for professional help early on. You can get through challenging times with love and the tools to grow together.
Contact the Relationship Counseling Center of Austin to work with a trained counselor who helps couples, married and premarital, successfully navigate transitions in their relationships. To schedule an appointment, call our main office at 512-270-4883, or request an appointment on the RCC Austin Scheduling page.