Couple Therapy Techniques (List)

This article will give some Couple Therapy Techniques and will discuss how relationship results in conflict.

Then it will focus on some couple-therapy techniques from which couples can choose from. Then it will highlight some exercises for couples to try.

COUPLE THERAPY TECHNIQUES:

Couple Therapy Techniques help couples to come with possible solutions in order to save their relationship from turmoil.

Having a relationship issue has become very common these days as the priorities have been shifted from being forever to being busy.

A relationship needs time, passion and love but the need for affiliation, affirmation, success, money, and power leads to the lack of time, passion and love which eventually breaks the bond.

Every individual is unique and, in a relationship, no two people are exactly the same and the differences in the relationship sometimes result in conflicts.

And that’s why couples need counseling techniques.

SOME COUPLE-THERAPY TECHNIQUES:

• Gottman Method:

Gottman Method Couples Therapy has been successful with clients in clinical practice with more than three thousand couples.

This method helps couples in increasing affection, closeness, and respect.

This technique helps the couple in understanding each other better and to discuss problems calmly and resolve the conflicts easily.

This therapy technique helps the partners to understand each other psychologically, what and how they think, how they react and express which eventually helps in increasing love for each other.

This method allows each other to convey their needs and desires without hesitation and ultimately reduces stress and conflict.

The partners learn to speak honestly about each other and show trust and commitment towards each other.

• Narrative Therapy:

Narrative therapy is another couple-counseling technique that seeks to separate the problem from one person by externalizing issues of concern.

In this, the therapist helps the couple by asking them to describe the problems in a narrative form and then asks to rewrite the negative parts of the story, in this the therapist helps.

It doesn’t mean that acknowledging the problem will end the problem but it definitely increases a new perspective on the situation. 

It helps the couple to view the main problem from different angles. Narrative therapy allows one to explore the past and bringing light to the negativities which were otherwise not thought about.

The exploring of negativities, gaining insight and then effectively rewriting the narrative of the relationship by dealing with the problem is what Narrative therapy does.

• Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy:

Emotionally focused therapy was developed by Dr. Susan Johnson and it was the first therapy that was developed for marriage counseling and it has been proven useful for family counseling as well.

This method has been used in clinics, hospitals, private practices, and training centers as well.

It also works well if Depression has been found in one of the partners.

It is a short-term approach and is focused on three main goals.

It encourages the emotional bond between the partners, seeks to have a tight bond between the partners and creates new beneficial interactions in the relationship.

Emotionally focused therapy has been found to be successful in improving couples’ relationship with a 90% success rate.

• Positive Psychology:

Positive psychology helps in identifying happy moments as they happen, it emphasizes positive emotions, character strengths, and constructive institutions.

Many couples find this therapy technique joyful as they learn to focus on the positive emotions and being in the present moment, they learn to appreciate each other more.

In this, the therapist regularly reminds the client to write the experiences they are currently having and for this, they use beepers or pagers.

This technique helps the client or the couple to enjoy moments as they are experienced.

EXERCISES FOR COUPLES:

• Extended Cuddle Time:

This is an exercise and is as simple as it sounds. The instructions are simple- Cuddle more often.

Though it seems easy, sometimes it is harder to follow as the couple can easily get distracted by their work, their phone, book, etc. at bedtime and gives less priority to cuddling, but ending a day with cuddling is a much better way.

The hormones that are released while cuddling one’s partner improves mood, deepens the connection and can also help in sleeping better.

This exercise can be done at any time in a day but the best time is before going to bed, the main motive is to get some quality one-on-one time with each other and showing physical attention and enhancing intimacy with the partner.

• Uninterrupted Listening:

This is another very simple exercise yet very difficult to maintain.

We all want people to listen to us and therefore we tend to ignore others talking and interrupt them in between.

This exercise can help both the partners to be heard, understood and cared for.

The instructions are simple, set a timer to say 3-5 minutes and let your partner talk, they can talk whatever they feel like and let out their emotions in open.

While one partner is speaking, the other partner has to just make sure to listen and actively listen and doesn’t speak or interrupt in between but encourage your partner with gestures, body language, and facial expressions.

When the timer stops, switch the roles and try the exercise again. Repeat this exercise every day and at least once in a day.

• Appreciating the partner Exercise:

This another quick and easy exercise to do and can be done anywhere and at any time of the day.

Start with giving at least 5 things you liked about your partner, this month or this week and noticing small things that the partner does to make another one happy.

Then you can move towards what would you like to do with your partner in the coming days, your plans and goals and in all of them the partner should be involved in any way.

Once the partner completes the exercise, switch the roles and start again but remember not to complain about anything like “you missed I did…”.

The main motive of this exercise is to appreciate each other and notice small things which partners do for each other every day but let go of it and doesn’t bother at all.

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CONCLUSION:

This blog discussed some Couple Therapy Techniques and discussed how relationship results in conflict.

Then it has focused on some couple-therapy techniques from which couples can choose from.

Then it has highlighted some exercises for couples to try.

Please feel free to comment below or leave a suggestion. We would really appreciate it.

What we recommend for Counselling

Professional counselling

If you are suffering from depression or any other mental disorders then ongoing professional counselling could be your ideal first point of call. Counselling will utilize theories such as Cognitive behavioural therapy which will help you live a more fulfilling life.

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CITATIONS:

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