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6 Things to Try Before Going to Couples Therapy

November 21, 2017 By Esther Benbihy

couples therapy in TorontoMany men and women find couples therapy in Toronto to be enormously helpful as far as fixing short-term and long-term problems with relationships, but if you are not sure whether you need to consult a couples therapist yet, there are a number of things you can try for yourself. Some of them may be more effective than others, depending on the precise nature of the problems you are experiencing, but they are all worth trying if you value your relationship and would like to get it back on track.

Advice from an Expert on Couples Therapy in Toronto

We have put together a few suggestions that any couples that are having problems may wish to try at home. If none of these suggestions help, we recommend making an appointment with a qualified couples counsellor at the earliest possible opportunity.

  1. Take the Initiative – One of the biggest stumbling blocks for couples who have been arguing for a long time is finding a way to stop the war of words and to start talking. It may not work for everybody but what you can try to do is to make a decision to stop arguing, leaving your partner with the choice of continuing a one-sided disagreement or sitting down and having a conversation.
  2. Analyse Your Behaviour – If you are able to spot the warning signs that indicate an argument is imminent, you can retreat from the situation and avoid conflict whenever necessary. While this is not a long-term fix, it can make it easier to reconcile in the future, perhaps with the help of couples therapy in Toronto if you can make the time to attend regular sessions.
  3. Express Your Feelings – Couples can often find common ground when they are open about the way that they feel, especially with regard to how they feel about each other in a positive way. However, if this is the very issue that is causing arguments, a course of couples therapy in Toronto, led by an experienced therapist, is probably a better option to pursue in the first instance.
  4. Use a Self-Help Book – There are plenty of good books available that delve into the nature of relationship problems: working your way through one of the better publications could be beneficial to both you and your partner.
  5. Tackle a New Enjoyable Project Together – This can be a make or break option so think carefully before trying it but some couples find they are able to work through their differences by working together on a new challenge.
  6. Invite Your Partner to Choose a Therapist – If your husband or wife is reluctant to start couples therapy in Toronto because they think you are trying to force them into following a path on which they are not keen, ask them to choose a therapist for you to visit. This will help them to feel in control and alleviate any trust issues.

If you would like to speak to an experienced couples therapist about your relationship, please feel free to call and make an appointment whenever convenient.

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Relationship Therapy Myths Exposed

November 14, 2017 By Esther Benbihy

Relationship therapy in Toronto Relationship therapy in Toronto is a viable option for couples who are experiencing challenges and it can solve many seemingly intractable problems but unfortunately, a sizeable percentage of people are reluctant to try it. Thanks to a number of myths that have arisen over the years, some couples view relationship therapy as either a last resort that is doomed to failure or a type of psycho-mumbo-jumbo that was invented as a way to make money. If you have hesitated to ask for professional help in the past because you have been taken in by some of the myths floating around, allow us to dispel them for you.

Some of the More Common Myths about Relationship Therapy in Toronto

Below are some of the most commonly heard myths about relationship therapy, along with an explanation of why they are untrue.

  • Digging Up the Past Is Unhelpful – Going over old arguments and bones of contention may well be an unhelpful approach to tackling serious relationship issues but examining events you have both lived through can be very therapeutic. By gaining an understanding of how your partner feels about certain issues and why they feel that way, you can begin to put your relationship back together again.
  • Only Couples Who Are Sure to Break Up Try Therapy – Some couples just don’t think their problems are serious enough to warrant seeking professional guidance. The best time for you to start a course of relationship therapy in Toronto is when you are still very much in love with your partner but you have noticed a few warning signs. As with most things in life, dealing with problems as soon as they arise is the best solution for couples who begin to experience issues.
  • Once You Start, You Will Never Stop – A large number of people believe that once you start any kind of therapy, you will never stop. While some people may find comfort in forming a long-term relationship with a psychotherapist and seek to continue sessions for many years, this does not need to be the case as far as relationship counselling is concerned. A good therapist will work with you to set clear goals at the beginning and encourage you to stop once these goals have been achieved.
  • Relationship Issues Are Private and Should Be Dealt with at Home – While it is, of course, true that your relationship and any problems you may be experiencing are a private matter between you and your partner, this does not mean that you should avoid seeking assistance from outside if you are unable to make progress by yourselves. Some couples find it almost impossible to be calm and rational at home and need a neutral environment with a professional therapist on hand in order to resolve their issues.

If you would like to find out whether relationship therapy in Toronto is a good choice for you, please feel free to call and speak to us at any time.

 

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The Importance of an Open Mind When Seeing a Relationship Therapist

May 12, 2017 By Esther Benbihy

Relationship Therapist Toronto

If you have decided that the problems you are experiencing in your relationship have become serious enough to warrant professional assistance, it is vital that you approach therapy with the right frame of mind. If you do not, you will almost certainly miss out on the benefits it has to offer, which would be a shame. Below, we take a look at some of the most important reasons you need to keep an open mind when attending relationship therapy sessions and what could happen if you do not follow this advice. Hopefully, having read through each point, you will be able to see the benefits and make the most of the help that is offered.

Why Your Relationship Therapist in Toronto Needs Your Help!

A good therapist will be able to guide you and your partner in the right direction and suggest various activities and techniques to bring you closer together. However, in order to assist you with your relationship issues, your therapist will first need a little help from you and your partner: he or she will need you to come to your first session with an open mind.

  • New Concepts – One of the biggest reasons it is important to have an open mind the first time that you see a relationship therapist in Toronto is the fact that you are likely to be asked to consider some new concepts: ideas about life and relationships that you may not have come across in the past. While it would be easy to dismiss these ideas out of hand, they could prove to be valuable tools that help you to overcome the problems you are experiencing.
  • New Perspectives – Perhaps the single most important reason to remain open to new ideas and suggestions when visiting a relationship therapist in Toronto is to ensure that you do not miss out on the opportunity to gain a brand new perspective on your relationship with your partner. After all, if you are unable to achieve this goal it is going to be very difficult for you to tackle the problems you are facing. While it is natural for both partners to blame each other when a relationship breaks down, it is normally the case that each person needs to reassess the situation honestly and without prejudice.
  • New Beginnings – Having accepted that viewing your relationship in a different way is key to making progress and that there may be ideas and techniques you can try that are completely new to you, you may then need to take on board the fact that new beginnings are more easily made by those who maintain an open mind throughout the whole process.

If you think that you would like to try couples therapy or you just want to know a little bit more about it first, please do not hesitate to contact Esther: the relationship therapist in Toronto who can help you to see things in a new light.

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4 Reasons Why You Owe It to Yourselves to Try Marriage Therapy

May 3, 2017 By Esther Benbihy

marriage therapy toronto

Sometimes the easiest thing to do when a relationship is broken is to simply cut your losses and walk away but when you have invested years in the relationship in question and you still have strong feelings for your partner this could be a big mistake. In this article, we are going to discuss why you really should consider visiting a marriage therapist before you throw in the towel and walk away from what might turn out to be the most important relationship you will ever have in your life.

Giving Marriage Therapy in Toronto a Chance

The reasons we feel it is important for couples in a marriage to give themselves a chance to fix things when the going gets rough are listed below. After considering each reason, we are sure you will agree that therapy is well worth a shot.

 

  1. Your Happiness – Walking away might seem like the simplest short-term solution when a marriage appears to have broken down completely but given that you loved your partner enough to marry them in the first place, you could be sacrificing your chance of happiness in the future by taking the easy way out. For this reason alone, it is important to try to save your marriage rather than consign it to history without a backward glance.
  2. Your Family – If you have children then of course it is important to do whatever you can to rescue your relationship, including trying marriage therapy in Toronto with an accredited counsellor, but even if you do not have any offspring, you may still want to take the time to consider how a divorce would affect both of your extended families. Marriage breakups can be rough for parents, aunts, and uncles too, not just for the couple in question.
  3. Your Career – A divorce can be a distressing experience that affects all areas of your life, not least your career. Whether you are a high flyer on a massive monthly salary or a factory worker on an average wage, you will almost certainly find it difficult to focus on your daily responsibilities if you are trying to handle a divorce at the same time. Marriage therapy in Toronto could be the best investment you ever make as far as both your work and your personal life are concerned.
  4. Your Mental Health – The emotional turmoil of a divorce will not only have an immediate effect on your ability to perform at work, it could also have implications for your mental health. While you can surely overcome these issues with professional help, most people agree that avoiding them in the first place is the best course of action if at all possible.

If you would like to try marriage therapy in Toronto with an experienced counsellor, call to make an appointment today.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Common Misconceptions About Relationship Therapy

April 23, 2017 By Esther Benbihy

Relationship Therapist TorontoCouples therapy, as it is commonly known, can be a great help to people who are struggling to deal with certain issues in a long-term relationship. Unfortunately, many couples do not take advantage of this type of therapy because of the misconceptions they have about what it involves and what it can achieve. If you are currently experiencing problems and you are not sure whether it is worth approaching a local therapist, it is well worth considering the facts about the common misconceptions concerning therapy that we have listed below because you could be missing out on valuable assistance just because of misinformed opinions held by others.

Relationship Therapy in Toronto: Facts and Fiction

Don’t let fiction get in the way of the facts when it comes to couples therapy. The following misconceptions are not based in truth and in no way reflect the real value of the treatment options currently available in this part of the world.

  • You Have to Have Mental Health Concerns to See a Therapist – You do not need to have mental health problems in order to see a couples therapist. The fact that you are not getting along with your partner and would like to do something positive about it is the only qualification you really need if you would like to take advantage of professional relationship therapy in Toronto. If you happen to have some mental health issues, these can be tackled at the same time but if not, the therapy will focus on getting to the root of the problems that are stopping you from enjoying your relationship right now.
  • Your Therapist Will Side with One of You – Many people worry that their relationship therapist will naturally side with one person or the other when they attend sessions as a couple but this is simply not the case. A professional therapist will remain neutral and will only be interested in solving the problems you are experiencing with each other, not in taking sides. As long as you make sure that your relationship therapy in Toronto is provided by an accredited professional you will not have any issues on this score.
  • Your Therapist Will Simply Listen and Say Nothing – While this approach may be a valid method of treatment for some psychological issues, it is not widely employed by couples therapists. When you go to visit someone who specializes in relationship therapy in Toronto, you can look forward to them making a positive contribution in every session. A good therapist will listen to both partners’ concerns and guide them in the right direction to make peace with each other and to build a future together.

The best way to find out exactly what couples therapy involves is to book a session with a reputable counsellor who can show you what is possible to achieve with professional assistance so please feel free to call and make an appointment at any time.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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