Marriage Counseling Approaches for Improved Communication

Marriage counseling approaches utilized by licensed therapists incorporate evidence-based techniques such as Adlerian therapy, Imago relationship counseling, and pragmatic intervention methods to improve communication patterns, resolve conflicts, and enhance relationship satisfaction through structured therapeutic support.

Do you and your partner keep having the same arguments, never quite reaching understanding? Marriage counseling isn't just for couples in crisis—it's a powerful way to break through communication barriers and build a stronger connection, with research-backed approaches that help you truly hear each other again.

Marriage Counseling Approaches Used By Social Workers To Enhance Communication

While relationship difficulties are not mental health conditions themselves, relationship conflict and the resulting stress can contribute to health problems such as hypertension, anxiety, and depression. Each of these can lead to other physical or mental health concerns. Couples might be more receptive to relationship therapy if they view it as more of a preventive measure than as a treatment for a problem. Couples and family therapy helps partners address not only current challenges but also potential future conflicts.

Benefits of couples counseling

Couples counseling can offer productive ways for partners to work through the problems that are holding them back. Therapy sessions with licensed clinical social workers can assist in resolving negative interaction patterns and improving relationship satisfaction.

There are several evidence-based therapy techniques that can help couples identify and address areas of tension. By utilizing effective counseling techniques, clinical social workers trained in various relationship therapy methods can help adult partners to honestly express their feelings, identify childhood experiences that may be impacting their relationship behaviors, and create new narrative forms that foster healthy connections. Seeking family therapy can be particularly helpful for couples struggling to resolve conflict or those who want to address various factors affecting their relationship dynamics.

What are the different types of couples counseling approaches?

With that said, there are several counseling techniques that keep this model in mind. Just as there is no one-size-fits-all approach to individual counseling, there are also multiple approaches to couples therapy sessions.

The Adlerian approach

Alfred Adler was one of the pioneers of individual therapy and counseling. He believed that one had to treat the individual as a whole and consider how that person experienced and viewed the world as a unique human being. Adler was quite successful in counseling and working with both individuals and couples because of his realization that there were two distinct persons involved in the relationship. The status of a couple implies oneness, but Adler insisted that the individual’s needs must come first.

Often, couples in counseling might say, “We want to save our relationship.” Adler believed that when two people are so intent on saving the relationship, they may lose themselves, possibly generating a great deal of damage. Licensed clinical social workers specializing in emotionally focused therapy, narrative therapy, and counseling can assist couples in resolving conflicts while also helping to improve relationship satisfaction. In therapy and counseling sessions, partners can be encouraged to express their feelings honestly and identify how their relationship behavior is impacted by their personal needs. Focused therapy and counseling techniques can also be utilized to help couples prioritize their own needs and identities, which can ultimately help to strengthen their adult relationships.

Group counseling for mental health and improved communication

While it is comforting to realize there are others with the same sorts of problems, taking relationship difficulties into a group setting can have one of several impacts. If one says something the other is not comfortable with others knowing, an issue that may not have existed before has now been created. Add this issue to the stack of problems already present, and group settings have the potential to make the situation even worse.

In some cases, this could cause others to feel attacked, which can prevent a healthy counseling environment from forming. With other types of issues, group therapy can work quite well. For relationship therapy, strong consideration may want to be given to whether a group setting is the right choice for the couple. Of course, every situation is different, and some couples might find that the group setting is exactly what they need. Others may benefit more from one-on-one or exclusive couples counseling sessions. Ultimately, the best choice depends on what feels most supportive for the couple and their specific challenges.

Therapeutic vs. pragmatic couples counseling approaches

With the therapeutic model of these counseling approaches, licensed clinical social workers treat relationship problems much like they would a mental health issue. In some relationships, this type of therapy may set the stage for blaming and labeling.

Relationship conflict can be due to one or both partners having a mental health concern, or substance use/addiction issue; however, these should be treated individually, as separate concerns and separate people.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Individual therapy can be conducted outside the couples therapy alliance. However, the couple can discuss how these issues have impacted the relationship when in couples counseling.

With the pragmatic model therapy style, couples are encouraged to deal with immediate concerns that are causing conflict. These often include the “easy” fixes. This could mean that partners spend more quality time together, learn each other’s love language, or just communicate more effectively so that they can make more informed decisions about the relationship. With the pragmatic approach, there is often a great deal of self-examination on the part of each individual to determine their motives and discover their triggers. After these have been identified, the couple can begin working on solutions to resolve conflict.

Imago relationship counseling

One popular form of couples therapy is the imago method. This type of counseling typically helps partners understand the reason behind their behaviors, which researchers believe is related to a person’s childhood. Specifically, a person’s reactions may be related to the relationships they established with parents or caregivers. The therapy techniques utilized in this type of counseling may help couples understand each other more, which may lead to more intimacy.

Online couples and family counseling with ReachLink

Considering getting individual or couples counseling? Each of these can be a helpful option for moving forward from negative cycles that are leaving you and your partner feeling stuck. It can be difficult to find the time for therapy, particularly if you and your significant other would like to go together. Online therapy can be a viable resource for busy individuals or couples who would like to receive support but don’t have time to commute to a therapist’s office. You can connect with a licensed clinical social worker through ReachLink, a telehealth platform specializing in mental health services. You can easily seek couples therapy from the comfort of your own home, and all you’ll need to get started in online counseling is a smart device and a reliable internet connection.

The cost of online couples counseling through ReachLink is typically more affordable than many traditional options. ReachLink offers subscription-based pricing that includes weekly live therapy sessions and secure messaging with a licensed clinical social worker.

Compared to traditional counseling, which can cost significantly more per session, ReachLink offers a cost-effective solution. ReachLink’s flexibility provides an alternative that can suit a variety of budgets while maintaining high-quality care from licensed professionals.

Effective online couples counseling for relationship wellness

Online-based therapy can be beneficial for individuals and couples alike, whether they’re experiencing relationship challenges or have general concerns about their well-being. Research has assessed the efficacy of online couples therapy interventions delivered through videoconferencing. Participants reported higher relationship satisfaction, and researchers have concluded that evidence supports couples therapy via videoconferencing as a viable alternative to face-to-face interventions, especially for those couples who may not have access to the treatment they require.

Takeaway

Couples counseling can take on many different forms. Since each relationship is comprised of two unique individuals, it can be important for couples counseling to focus on both people separately as well as together. If you’re experiencing challenges in your relationship, online couples counseling may be a solution that helps you through the problems you’re facing. If you are struggling to understand your partner or to get your partner to change unhelpful or even dysfunctional behavior, couples counseling may provide you with valuable insights and strategies. Whether you seek therapy alone or with your partner, seeking the assistance of a licensed clinical social worker can offer unbiased support and help you navigate your relationship challenges. Take the first step toward getting support and reach out to ReachLink today.