Have you been considering counseling for your relationship, but aren’t sure if you should pursue couples therapy or relationship coaching? It can be difficult to know what’s right for you and your partner. In this blog post, we’ll look at the difference between couples therapy and relationship coaching and help you decide which is right for you.
What is Relationship Coaching?
Relationship coaching is a collaborative process in which the coach helps the couple identify communication breakdowns, weak skills and other areas where they need support. The coach will then create a customized plan to help the couple meet their goals. Relationship coaching focuses on present-day issues and works toward creating positive changes in the relationship quickly. While traditional therapy takes time to build a relationship with a therapist before beginning work, relationship coaches know that you are capable of doing the work without lengthy introductions or exploring past traumas. Coaches also understand that their clients are looking for fast results and will use techniques designed to get those results as soon as possible.
For example, let’s say a couple comes in dealing with extensive communication problems stemming from life changes: a move, a new job, or a new baby. Every time they try to discuss issues and solve problems, tensions escalate and a fight begins. Nothing ever gets resolved. Relationship coaching can help them identify sources of tension and create new methods of communication, helping them break through their barriers and solve their problem.
What is Couples Therapy?
Couples therapy is also collaborative process, but it is more focused on understanding why patterns were created than on finding solutions quickly. Traditional therapy tends to take longer because it often focuses on the past – including childhood experiences – and identifying how those experiences have impacted current behaviors and relationships. If you have a diagnosed mental illness or are dealing with past trauma, couples therapy can be an excellent option because it allows time to build trust with your therapist before discussing more sensitive topics related to your life experiences. Couples therapy can also provide insight into longstanding issues, allowing participants to better understand each other’s perspectives in order to make meaningful progress toward healing together as a couple.
Conclusion:
The decision between couples therapy and relationship coaching comes down to personal preference and need. If you have deep-seated issues that need further exploration or if trust-building will take time, couples therapy might be right for you. However, if you want a fast start and are confident that your goal is achievable through improved communication skills, then relationship coaching may be better suited for your needs. Whichever option you choose, extra support can make all the difference in getting back on track with your partner!
