Relationship Counselling Didn’t Work? Here’s Why
So, you’ve tried relationship counselling, but it didn’t work for you. What should you do next?
There are many different approaches to relationship counselling, and different therapists may provide unique strategies and styles to promote positive growth. Ultimately, here is no one-size-fits-all solution.
What this means is that relationship counselling rarely results in a one-and-done situation. If your first counselling experience failed to deliver the outcomes you wanted, you can try again with someone new.
The challenge? Convincing a reluctant partner to try another session can be difficult, especially if you’ve already been through a less-than-ideal experience.
The key is to do your research, find out what’s on offer, and identify the right therapeutic support so that the second time starts to make progress. Here’s how!
Why Didn’t Counselling Work for You?
First, it’s important to consider what went wrong with your initial relationship counselling session. Why didn’t counselling work for you and your partner?
Maybe your partner was reluctant to accept help and felt unable to open up. Maybe you were just too busy to get to appointments as often as you needed them. Maybe counselling did work for a little while, but over time, you and your partner slipped back into old habits.
By understanding what didn’t work during your first counselling experience, you can develop a clearer sense of what you really need. You can start to identify issues before they arise and choose a new counselling pathway that tackles the problems you’ve faced before.
Look for the Right Pathways
It’s time to open yourself up to healing and start looking for a new relationship counsellor.
It’s important to find a therapist both you and your partner can connect with, someone you’ll both be comfortable talking to about your experiences and hang-ups.
Think about the approaches that are likely to work best for you and your needs. There are many different kinds of therapy on offer.
A cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach involves talk therapy to develop coping skills and behavioural strategies. Conversely, a schema therapist can help you identify and change maladaptive thought and behaviour patterns from childhood. Gestalt therapy will instead emphasise personal responsibility and self-awareness, helping you resolve issues in a holistic way.
Be Open to Change
When accessing relationship counselling, you and your partner must be open to the help you receive.
Be willing to learn from each other and your therapist, and be open to growing from past mistakes. The more accepting you are, the more likely it is that counselling can help you improve your relationship for the long-term.
Choosing a Clinic
You’re probably wondering, “How can I find a therapist near me?” Look no further.
Find a Clarity Health Care location in your area, and you’ll be able to access all the multidisciplinary services you need in one convenient location – perfect for busy couples.
Don’t forget to consider funding! When possible, it’s a good idea to choose a clinic that partners with your health fund. This way, you can access private psychologist care while minimising out-of-pocket expenses.
Finally, look for a clinic with multiple professionals on offer. Even if you don’t connect with the first counsellor you meet, you can try working with someone else until you find the right match.
