3 Myths About Couples Therapy

本站添加: 2026-06-07

[00:00:00]Most couples wait too long to get help, and these three myths are a big reason why. I'm Ken, I'm a psychologist, and this is Getting Unstuck. Myth number one, couples therapy is only for couples in crisis. Actually, many couples wait way too long. By the time they seek help, painful patterns have already become deeply entrenched. There are things couples can do early on. Couples therapy, of course, but also wonderful evidence-based workshops designed to strengthen relationships. Uh examples include the Gottman workshops or Sue Johnson's Hold Me Tight program. Think of it this way, it's a lot easier to strengthen a relationship, even one that's struggling, than it is to rebuild one after years of pain. Myth number two, the real problem is communication.

[00:00:47]Communication matters, of course it does. But the real issue, the underlying issue, is rarely just communication problems. It's what happens when old hurts and old fears get triggered. In those moments, hearing each other gets really hard, and communication skills alone usually aren't enough. Good couples therapy helps people recognize and respond differently to their triggers and change the painful cycles that they've gotten caught up in. Myth number three, couples therapy is always about saving the relationship.

[00:01:19]Sometimes, good couples therapy is about helping people understand each other and get out of the painful cycles that they're trapped in. That doesn't always mean helping people stay together.

[00:01:29]Sometimes it means helping people separate more thoughtfully and with less harm.