Relationships can be complex and challenging, and sometimes they require outside help to overcome obstacles. Couples therapy can be a valuable resource for couples who are struggling with communication, trust, intimacy, and other issues.
Here are some signs you need couples therapy:
- Communication breakdown: If you find that you and your partner are arguing frequently, or that you’re having trouble having meaningful conversations, it may be a sign that you could benefit from couples therapy.
- Trust issues: If trust has been broken in the relationship, such as infidelity or lies, it can be difficult to rebuild on your own. Therapy can help you work through these issues and create a plan to move forward.
- Intimacy problems: If you and your partner are struggling with physical or emotional intimacy, therapy can help you explore the underlying issues and find ways to reconnect.
- Life transitions: Major life changes, such as moving, starting a family, or changes in career, can put a strain on a relationship. Couples therapy can help you navigate these transitions together and adjust to the changes.
- Feeling stuck: If you and your partner are feeling stuck in the same patterns or conflicts, therapy can help you break out of these patterns and create new ways of relating to each other.
In conclusion, if you are experiencing any of these issues, couples therapy can provide you with the tools and support to improve your relationship. Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength and commitment to your relationship.
How do you know if your relationship needs therapy?
Signs you need couples therapy if:
- You keep having the same fights without resolution.
- Communication feels tense, surface-level, or nonexistent.
- There’s been a breach of trust (like infidelity, financial secrets, or emotional betrayal).
- You feel more like roommates than partners.
- Resentment, criticism, or contempt show up regularly.
- Big life changes (new baby, job loss, illness) are straining the relationship.
- One or both of you feel unheard, unappreciated, or misunderstood.
- Even if you’re not fighting much, you feel emotionally distant.
At what point do you need couples therapy?
Ideally before things feel like they’re falling apart.
Many couples wait until they’re at a breaking point, but therapy is most effective when you still have goodwill and a desire to work together.
If you’re asking this question, it’s already a good time to reach out. Therapy isn’t just for “crisis mode” — it can also strengthen and tune up your relationship.
How do I know if my partner needs therapy?
Signs your partner might personally benefit from therapy:
- They’re dealing with unresolved trauma, depression, anxiety, addiction, or major grief.
- They have trouble regulating emotions (frequent outbursts, shutdowns, etc.).
- Past patterns from childhood or previous relationships seem to negatively affect your dynamic.
- They express feeling overwhelmed, lost, angry, or disconnected but don’t know how to fix it.
- They resist conversations about problems or avoid emotional vulnerability.
What percentage of couples stay together after couples therapy?
Research shows that about 70% of couples report improved relationship satisfaction after couples therapy.
As for staying together:
- It’s not just about “staying together” — it’s about staying together happily.
- Some couples realize through therapy that separation is the healthiest choice — and that can still be a successful outcome if it leads to personal growth and healthier future relationships.