Roswell, GA Marriage And Family Therapist Talks About Factors That Could Interfere With The Success Of Marriage Counseling

Have you ever wondered why some couples, despite their earnest efforts to improve their relationship through marriage counseling, still find themselves struggling to find common ground? 

High hopes and genuine dedication often mark the journey of seeking professional help to mend a partnership. However, as with any endeavor, there can be roadblocks. The most important fact is that once couples start having struggles or any setbacks, they wait too long to get real help. Please don’t do this. Do not wait long to get good and real help.

Understanding these challenges is a vital step toward overcoming them, ensuring that the journey of healing and growth is as effective and rewarding as possible.

While marriage counseling has the potential to rekindle love, improve communication, and build stronger bonds, it’s not always a seamless process. Relationships are complex, and numerous factors, both internal and external, can influence the effectiveness of counseling.

Let’s check out some of these factors with Family & Marriage Therapist Jousline Savra who bases her office in Roswell, GA.

• Lack of commitment 

Are you committed to maximizing the benefits of marriage counseling? One of the basic factors that can interfere with the success of marriage counseling is the level of commitment from both partners. 

Commitment is the foundation upon which the entire counseling process is built. When one or both partners lack a genuine commitment to making the relationship work, it can hinder progress and potentially lead to an unsuccessful counseling journey.

A lack of commitment can manifest in various ways. One partner may be hesitant to fully engage in counseling, showing resistance to the process and a reluctance to open up. 

They might attend sessions grudgingly, without actively participating or being receptive to the counselor’s guidance. Sometimes, a partner may even desire to end the relationship, making it challenging to achieve positive outcomes through counseling.

• Unwillingness to change 

Another significant factor that can hinder the success of marriage counseling is the unwillingness of one or both partners to change. 

You see, effective counseling often involves recognizing and addressing behaviors, communication patterns, or issues contributing to relationship challenges. However, counseling progress can be impeded if one or both partners resist change.

Unwillingness to change may be rooted in fear, pride, or a belief that the relationship issues are solely the other partner’s responsibility. Jousline states it can manifest as a refusal to acknowledge personal faults or a reluctance to alter established habits and routines. 

When individuals resist change, it can be challenging for the counseling process to bring about meaningful transformation in the relationship.

• Not prioritizing it in the early stages of the fallout  

The timing of seeking marriage counseling plays a significant role in its effectiveness. When couples delay seeking professional help until the problems have escalated, it can be more challenging to address and resolve them.

In the early stages of relationship difficulties, identifying and addressing concerns is often easier before they become deeply ingrained in the relationship dynamics. 

However, when couples neglect to prioritize counseling during this crucial phase, problems can fester and intensify, making them more challenging to overcome.

Jousline states the reasons for not prioritizing counseling early on can vary. For instance, some couples may underestimate their issues’ severity or hope they will naturally improve over time. Others may hesitate to seek help due to stigma or fear of judgment.

• Trying so hard to prove your partner is wrong 

In marriage counseling, a common challenge that can hinder success is the tendency for one or both partners to become overly invested in proving the other wrong. 

This wrong approach can turn counseling sessions into battlegrounds rather than spaces for understanding, growth, and resolution.

When individuals focus on proving their partner’s faults, they may engage in blame-shifting, criticism, and defensive behaviors. They may use phrases such as ‘you never listened to me’ to prove the other person wrong. 

This adversarial mindset can lead to a breakdown in communication and trust within the counseling process. It can create an environment where partners are more interested in winning an argument than in working together to address the underlying issues.

• Trust in your therapy 

Which marriage counselor have you chosen? Do you trust them? Well, trust is a fundamental element in the success of marriage counseling. When couples lack trust in the therapy process or their counselor, it can significantly interfere with the effectiveness of counseling.

Doubts and suspicions about the therapy process can arise from various sources, including previous negative counseling experiences, skepticism about the counselor’s qualifications, or even unfounded fears about the counselor taking sides in the relationship. 

When trust in the process is compromised, individuals may not fully engage, withhold important information, or resist the counselor’s guidance. 

The type of therapist and experience 

The choice of therapist and their experience level can influence the success of marriage counseling. Selecting the right therapist who aligns with a couple’s unique needs can greatly impact the effectiveness of the counseling process.

Therapists come from diverse backgrounds, with varying degrees of experience and different therapeutic approaches. If couples do not choose a therapist who is well-qualified and experienced in addressing their specific concerns, it can hinder the success of counseling. 

Inexperienced or ill-suited therapists may struggle to understand and effectively guide the couple through their issues. That’s why you need Jousline Savra. Jousline has been improving relationships for over 24 years in California and Georgia. She recently started to offer telehealth services for those living in these states and is highly experienced in helping couples improve their relationship goals.

You can resolve all these.

Successfully addressing the challenges that can interfere with the effectiveness of marriage counseling involves a holistic approach that revolves around empathy, open communication, and a shared commitment to growth. 

It begins with both partners recognizing that counseling is not about assigning blame or proving one another wrong; instead, it’s a collaborative journey toward building a healthier and more fulfilling relationship. 

Partners must approach counseling with a shared commitment to growth and improvement, recognizing that both individuals play a role in the relationship’s success. The willingness to embrace change and personal development is a pivotal step. 

It requires acknowledging that personal development benefits both partners and can lead to a stronger partnership. This willingness can be conveyed through open and empathetic dialogue, where each partner listens actively and respects the other’s point of view.

Prioritizing counseling in the early stages of relationship issues can be addressed by understanding the significance of early intervention. By choosing counseling as a proactive step toward resolution, couples prevent issues from becoming deeply rooted and more challenging to overcome. 

Ultimately, the success of marriage counseling relies on trust in the therapeutic process and the therapist. This trust is built through open communication, transparency, and a belief in the ability of the therapist to guide the journey. 

Jousline can help 

In the quest to overcome the challenges that can interfere with the success of marriage counseling, it’s important to recognize that your journey to healing and growth is not one you have to embark on alone. 

Jousline is dedicated to guiding you through this transformative process. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she understands the complexities of love and relationships and is committed to helping you navigate these challenges effectively.

She firmly believes that the success of marriage counseling is not just about addressing obstacles, but also about embracing the potential for positive change. Contact Jousline today, and she will support you every step of the way.

• 
  +
• 
  +