Couples Therapy

While you may have heard both of these terms "couples therapy" and "couples counseling" and wondered what set them apart from one another, they usually mean the same thing. Although "therapy" often calls to mind the idea of getting help for long-term, chronic problems, and counseling might make you think of seeking aid for short-term, immediate problems, there is no difference between them on a technical level. The only context in which it matters what the session is called is a legal one in some places, you must have a special certification or license to practice therapy that is more difficult to obtain than the certification or licensing to practice counseling.

Whether you call it couples therapy or couples counseling, this type of engagement with a qualified professional provides couples with an opportunity to work through their most difficult or emotionally challenging problems. These problems can range from simple communication issues or significant disagreements to substance abuse issues and psychological disorders (Bonior, 2017).

While couples therapy can be a great way to reconnect with your partner or mend the fences between you, there are many ways to make sure you keep the spark alive and the relationship healthy without seeing a professional. In fact, there are many resources out there that draw from theories or research in couples therapy.

It's never too late (or too early) to start putting a little more effort into your relationship. If you are part of a couple that would like to improve your connection, choose one or two of the activities and exercises described below to practice with your partner. If you are a marriage and family therapist or couples counselor, consider sharing some of these activities and exercises with your clients.

Being a couples therapist does requires special skills but that is what the training is about. Individuals who go into marriage and family counseling or therapy take years of rigorous coursework and supervision, go through an arduous credentialing and licensing process, and continue to receive education throughout their careers to learn about the field's newest developments. There inevitably is self-selection involved in who decides to become a family therapist and, even more so, who stays in the profession. The chances are excellent that the couples therapist you see is someone who is providing this treatment because he or she is committed to helping couples enact positive changes in their lives.