We all get to a point where things that surround us take a toll on us. It could be an unruly teenager, a difficult boss, a struggling partner, etc. Given the busy lifestyles of balancing work and family, such things are bound to break us.
It’s okay to seek help when you cannot handle certain situations. We all need to breath, refocus, and restart once in a while. A marriage and family therapist is the person that can help you with any family or marriage issues.
It takes courage to admit that you have a problem and therefore need help. Do you need a therapist? Find their benefits further in this article, so read on to learn more.
What Is a Marriage and Family Therapist?
A marriage and family therapist addresses behaviors of all family members and how their behaviors affect each member, their relationships and the entire family.
When you go to a therapist, treatment will be divided between time taken on individual and couple therapy, family therapy or both. You need to see a marriage and family therapist when you have unresolved couple conflicts, sexual dysfunction, distress, grief, issues with eldercare, etc.
Conflict Resolution
Conflict resolution skills are principal skills in marriage and family resolution. A therapist helps couples and families to understand conflict using a combination of skills training and interventions.
You need to learn to solve conflict without shutting down, fighting, fleeing or giving in. Rather you should be able to resolve disagreements fairly and respectfully. A traditional therapist should walk the client through various steps that lead you to conflict resolution.
They include stating your position, looking at underlying issues and drawing a mutually agreed-upon plan. This model allows clients to directly address their issues while minimizing anxiety, anger and depression.
Improves Communication Skills
A family and marriage therapist should help you improve your communication with your partner and family. They should provide a non-judgmental and a safe environment to the client so that you are able to share with him every detail.
When you know someone is offering you a listening ear and won’t judge you, you will open up to them everything. Family therapy should teach couples and families how to communicate to each other.
One should be able to tell their partner or family member what they are feeling in a calm and composed manner.
Learning how to communicate is a process that might carry over to work colleagues and friends and other relationships. After therapy, even the most reserved person should learn how to verbal out their concerns.
Improve Self Esteem
If your self-esteem is low because of either an abusive marriage or unruly teenagers, a therapist should help you overcome it. When close relationships get strained because children feel confined or undermined, or one partner dominates another.
The concerned person’s self-esteem will move south. When you see this happening, seek counseling. Your therapist should be able to address the issues at hand by either encouraging one person to open up or limiting one person’s supremacy in the relationship.
Therapy should repair damaged esteem by helping the affected person to restore healthy dynamics in the relationship. A therapist should also reassure their clients and remind them of their potential and worth.
Cultivating Healthy Behaviors
Marriage and family therapy should help you improve your mental and physical health. If you have a toxic partner or family member, their behavior is bound to affect everyone close to them.
For instance if a family member is struggling with drug and alcohol abuse, anger issues, or eating disorders, then they may need counseling. Such people can drain you physically and mentally.
A good counselor will not hold the keys to resolve such problems, he may start a dialogue to point clients towards healthier patterns. Let the person with the toxic unhealthy behaviors see how they are affecting other people and together devise a recovery process.
Defining Roles
When relationships roles become compromised or unclear, it leads to conflicts. When this happens, seek therapy.
For instance, a parent might feel the other parent has ignored or is not in the upbringing of their children, so it feels as if it’s one parent’s responsibility. A counselor should help both of you to understand their roles and boundaries.
Conclusion
When you feel your marriage or family is taking a toll on you, it’s time to seek counseling. Sometimes, all you need is a listening ear so you can vent. Other times, there is an underlying issue that should be tackled by a professional.
