10 Reasons Why You Need a Marriage Counselor

 These wedding vows are more than just a collection of words that pastors want us to say at the altar. Those few words epitomize the true meaning of marriage - to be on each other's side against all odds. However, love fades, people drift apart, and marriages lose that spark, but there's always a way to fix them. One of those ways is consulting a marriage counselor.

It doesn't matter whether you've been married for a month or a decade; marriage counseling can be a great way to fortify your relationship. A marriagecounselor will teach you how to communicate and heal cracks that are breaking the relationship. It's also important to understand that marital counseling doesn't result in failure. In fact, it can be the best thing you ever did for your relationships. To improve our case, we have highlighted ten reasons that make marriage counseling just what you need for a happier and loving married life.

Reason 1: To Help Couples Taking Time Out

Most marital problems occur when individuals don't take time for their better halves. One reason for that is that we're living in a fast-paced world, and we're being asked to go above and beyond our abilities to meet professional demands. It leaves us with no time for the people we care about. Marriage counseling helps couples to take that much-needed time out for themselves and work on their relationships. You'd be surprised how taking time out for yourself can do wonders for you.

Reason 2: To Add an Intermediary Between the Couples

Most couples fight without having someone neutral in the middle. Imagine that you're watching a professional fight without a referee, and what can happen? A marriage therapist acts as an intermediary between the couples and ensures that they perform healthy and effective communication. This can work well for those couples who are ready to improve their relationship but need help figuring out where to start.

Reason 3: To Resolve Issues when Couples Have Grown Apart

We mentioned before how people drift apart, even after decades of marriage behind them. It's pretty common with millennials. Studies suggest that more than 43% of couples born in the late 1980s or earlier 1990s end up in a divorce. After decades of living under matrimony, it's not justified that you end it right off the bat. Marriage counseling can prevent that. If you've been with somebody for a long time, you still hold respect for each other. So, you only need some mending and reigniting the spark that has lost its touch.

Reason 4: To Cater to a Specific Problem

Another major reason why couples seek counseling is to resolve a particular problem in their lives. For instance, one of you is addicted to drugs or alcohol. This is a problem, given that more than 88,000 people die yearly from alcohol abuse. It also has adverse effects inside a home. For instance, it can cause emotional scarring in children, ruin marriages, and even destroy finances. So, a marriage therapist can be a great way to start your rehabilitation process for those suffering from addiction.

Reason 5: Poor Communication

Communication is key in any relationship, especially in a marital one. According to a survey, more than 886 divorced couples identified lack of communication as the most common reason for splitting up. Another 53% of participants cited poor communication as a primary reason for divorce. A therapist knows that communication is essential for lasting relationships. You might get to know your partner's feelings and thoughts with it. If you don't know, how do you expect to resolve them? So, before you drift further apart, take the high road and establish a communicative ground.

Reason 6: To Heal from Betrayal

Infidelity is one of the worse reasons why couples drift apart. Unfortunately, betrayal cuts deep; even with marriage counseling, these wounds can take years to heal. However, that doesn't make them impossible to recover. Again, the key here is communication. Most married individuals seek validation outside because they can't communicate effectively with their partners. A counselor can help couples communicate better and build trust between them again. If anything, a counselor can act as an unbiased third party to listen to your situation.

Reason 7: To Resolve Misunderstandings

Although most relationships encounter misunderstandings, they can become more significant problems in the longer run. A therapist can help couples to resolve misunderstandings and avoid miscommunications in the future. In hindsight, couples must know and respect each other's wishes and dreams. If you can find common ground, it can become easier to protect a long-term marriage.

Reason 8: To Remain Accountable

As a couple, you must understand that you are accountable to each other. For instance, your action could directly or indirectly impact your partner. A therapist can help both individuals make better decisions that benefit both parties. Most counselors assign homework to the couple that can help them withstand the test of time.

Reason 9: To Smoothen a Big Transition

Change is inevitable. Even in a marriage, you'll find yourself in different unique situations. These changes can be both good and bad, but something big can shake up the dynamic of a relationship. It can be something like an illness, retirement, or even the arrival of a child. Giving birth to a child and nurturing it for years to come can be a life-altering experience and can even leave a relationship in tatters. A counselor can help you through the process and even help you become a better role model for the next generation.

Reason 10: To Discuss Financial Matters

Money is a tricky and uncomfortable topic for many couples, especially in the present era of inflation. A study indicates that money is the most common reason for an unhappy marriage. Elements like irresponsible spending and financial infidelity can create financial and marital problems within the household.

A marriage counselor can help couples open doors of communication regarding their finances. Further, most counselors have the experience and qualifications even to suggest different ways in which they can save finances. However, the key here again is communication. If couples are honest about their financial situation, they can get to the root of the problems quicker.

Final Thoughts

Marriage is one of the most beautiful and harmonious forms of relationship in any religion. While ending it may sometimes be necessary, you can always reach out to a marriage counselor before it worsens. If you feel your marital life is going to get a major hit, it's the ideal time to start. Remember, these problems can't be solved by themselves. The only way to get through them is through professional assistance.

AR Counseling offers a wide range of counseling services to clients through its team of experienced marriage counselors. Marriage counseling is only effective if couples seek it sooner rather than later. Of course, both you and your partner should be willing to work with the therapist for better results. It will only make a difference if both the individuals in the relationship play their part to make things better – it can not be a one-sided matter.