Myths about Marriage Therapy
As I have been practising almost primarily as a Marriage Therapist for a few years now, I have come across many ideas and misconceptions about Marriage Therapy. I will briefly share these misconceptions with you:
“The Therapist is just going to team up on me!” The goal of Marriage Therapy is not to take one person’s “side” or the other person’s. The goal is to help figure out what is happening and why it is happening, and help both participants find ways that they are able to “make it work.” This, sadly, is the number one reason that people do not want to try marriage counselling in the first place, which is understandable; I also would not like to be locked in a room where it is 2 vs. 1.
“It is pointless; nothing has ever worked before.” Although it is probably true that the same problems have come up again and again and again, it is perhaps also true that attempts to change things have led back to the same dynamic. This is normal for relationships. Counselling, and specifically EFT, works on getting out of those patterns and dynamics, creating new, healthier patterns together.
“Counselling is expensive.” This one is a half-truth. Yes, therapy has a price tag—I understand it is big. However, the price tag of divorce (the most expensive thing you will probably ever do) or living in a stuck, dry relationship is also very high. I believe that Couples Therapy is one of the best investments a person can make.
I hope this helps you. If you have any preconceived concerns about counselling, have any questions, or know of other misconceptions about counselling that I should add to this list, feel free to email me at mike@pivottherapy.ca.
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