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Seeing a relationship counsellor may sound like an admission of failure as far as some couples are concerned but the fact of the matter is that such counselling can be extremely helpful and effective. Rather than throwing away everything you have worked for over the years, it is surely worth approaching a local counsellor to see what kind of help they can offer. If you are still not sure whether it is the right thing for you to do, take a look at the 6 facts about relationship counselling below and you may find that you feel far more open to the idea of therapy.

Could Relationship Counselling in Toronto Work for You?

Check out the facts about counselling below and you will be in a better position to decide whether counselling is a viable option for you and your partner.

1. Most Couples Are Happy with the Counselling They Receive – According to surveys conducted by professional associations in North America, the majority of couples who attend counselling sessions are satisfied with the service they receive from their counsellor.
2. It Is Not as Intimidating as Some People Think – The majority of couples who have attended relationship counselling in Toronto and elsewhere say the process was far less intimidating than they had imagined it would be.
3. When Couples Cooperate, Faster Progress Can Be Made – If your partner is debating as to whether or not they want to try couples therapy, they may be interested to learn that when couples cooperate, i.e. attend counselling sessions together, it is possible to make much faster progress than when only one person attends.
4. It Does Not Have to Be Prohibitively Expensive – Although some therapists have been known to charge outrageous prices for their services, the majority of professionals who offer relationship counselling in Toronto charge reasonable fees. Therapy may also be covered by extended health insurance plans.
5. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is Very Effective – Studies have shown EFT to be one of the most effective forms of therapy so it is worth finding an experienced counsellor who specializes in this approach.
6. Seeking Help Sooner Rather Than Later is Best – Most therapists agree that the earlier a couple seeks outside help, the better the chances of them being able to work through their problems and go on to enjoy a happy life together.

If you would like to try a counselling session with an empathetic, professional, and experienced therapist, please do not hesitate to call us at 647-295-5935. Whatever problems you and your partner may be dealing with, you can rest assured that we have almost certainly helped other couples in a similar situation before.

The problems that a couple may experience in a personal relationship are obviously a private matter between two people but this does not mean that sharing one’s feelings and frustrations with a third party is necessarily a bad thing. If you and your partner are going through a rough patch and you do not know what to do to improve your relationship, consulting with a professional counsellor could be the best option.

How Exactly Could Marriage Counselling in Toronto Help You and Your Partner?

Below are just a few of the reasons that couples therapy works so well for many married people, in Canada and all over the world.

• Objectivity – When you are in the middle of a stressful period in your relationship, it can be virtually impossible to look at the problems you are facing objectively. However, a professional therapist can observe your behavioural patterns, listen to the two of you air your grievances, and form an objective opinion. By listening to an impartial observer, you will be able to view your problems in a new light.

• Commitment – The very act of agreeing to seek outside help will demonstrate your commitment to your relationship, which is sure to have a positive effect on the way that you and your partner feel about each other. Making the effort to find a suitable therapist and attending marriage counselling in Toronto could be the catalyst you need to repair your relationship with your spouse.

• Honesty – When attending therapy separately, the therapist tends to receive a one-sided perspective of the relationship. On the other hand, if you make arrangements to attend marriage counselling in Toronto as a couple both sides of the story are told. While this may feel restrictive at first, it will ensure an honest exchange of opinions in the long run.

• Experience – Most couples have only faced the particular problems they are dealing with on one or two occasions, which means they have very limited experience of how to deal with these problems. However, a professional marriage counsellor will have helped many couples to work through similar issues to those you are facing and will therefore have a much better idea of the approaches that work and those that do not.

To find out more about how marriage counselling in Toronto could help you and your partner, please feel free to call or email us at your convenience. Esther Benbihy has many years of experience in couples therapy and a warm and friendly approach that puts people at ease. Don’t let the situation between you and your partner get any worse: get in touch today and arrange to have an introductory session.

 

There are certain signs that therapists can spot when counselling couples: indicators that the relationship they are trying to save is fundamentally healthy. Whether these signs are present when the couple in question first begins therapy or whether they start to appear as things progress is not important. What is important is that every single sign is a positive indication that the relationship is likely to endure and should encourage the couple in question to stay the course.

The Signs Your Couple Therapist in Toronto Will Be Waiting to See

We are sharing these classic indicators of a healthy relationship so that you can see and rejoice in them when they emerge in your relationship!

1. You Share Your Emotions – If you start to talk to your partner about the way you are feeling at certain times, the emotions you experience in your life, this is a very good sign that your relationship is on the mend. Keeping your feelings to yourself is one of the first signs of a failing relationship so when this behaviour is reversed it is a very positive sign indeed!
2. You Can Admit Your Faults – Couples who are both willing to take responsibility for the problems in their relationship are far more likely to find a way to make things work and to stay together in the long term. A couple therapist in Toronto who is faced with two people that have no intention of taking responsibility for any of the problems in their relationship may come to the conclusion that no matter what methods are employed, failure is a very real possibility.
3. You Still Argue– Couples that still argue and are engaged with each other still care enough about their relationship to discuss the problems they are facing. It may not sound like a great sign but it is far healthier than couples who have simply stopped caring and communicating.
4. You Engage in Affectionate Touching – Couples who frequently touch each other in a non-sexual manner are usually happier in their relationship than those who do not.
5. You Admire Your Partner – If you admire your partner’s strength of character or personality, and they reciprocate your feelings, you have an excellent chance of making your relationship work.

If you do not notice any of the above signs, please do not despair. Feel  free to give us a call and arrange to have a face-to-face session with our experienced couple therapist in Toronto. After your first couple sessions, you should be in a much better position to judge whether your relationship can be salvaged.

Couples who have decided that now is the time to visit a Relationship Therapist Toronto, in order to get their relationship back on track, should ensure they are ready to make the most of the therapy they receive before they attend their first session. If you are living here in Toronto, you will find there are a number of experienced and qualified therapists ready and willing to help you resolve your relationship issues but all of them will expect you to make a major contribution during couple therapy sessions.

How to Prepare for Your First Session with a Relationship Therapist Toronto

Whether you have already booked your first session or you are just about to, you can follow the steps below to make sure that you are able to make the most of your time in couples therapy.

1. Cease Hostilities – If you are actively arguing with your partner every day, make an effort to cease hostilities in preparation for your first session.

2. Think about Your Issues – Spend some time alone considering what it is that upsets you most about your relationship with your partner. If you are to be able to talk freely with your therapist about the issues closest to your heart, right from the very start, you will need to identify what those issues are. A good couples therapist can of course facilitate this process of discovery but a little preparation beforehand will help you to make the most of your time together.

3. Make Time to Relax – While the busy work and social lives that many of us lead in cities such as Toronto can make it difficult to find time to spend alone in contemplation, doing so could really help you to get more out of your session with a local therapist. Approaching your issues with a clear, serene mind will make it much easier to accept positive suggestions and to instigate changes that will improve the situation in which you find yourself.

4. Be Willing to Believe – If you think that you might have avoided booking a session with a relationship therapist Toronto up until now because you simply don’t believe that couples therapy can help, you really need to question this belief before you begin. Starting a course of couples therapy with the attitude that there is no way it can possibly help you to resolve the relationship issues you are experiencing will most certainly slow any progress you are able to make and could stop the process from working altogether.

Lastly, another component to consider when starting therapy is the importance of a good fit between the both of you and the relationship therapist in Toronto. It is crucial that you feel comfortable with the couples therapist you have chosen as well as trust their knowledge and judgement.

Couples therapy can be highly effective and has helped to bring many people closer together over the years: couples who might have otherwise divorced if they had not invested time and energy to save their relationship. Couple Therapy Toronto is more likely to be effective when both partners approach it with the right frame of mind. If you are a resident of Toronto who is not sure if it is the right choice for you, take a look at the points below before booking your first session.

How to Approach Couple Therapy Toronto

Whenever you have a few minutes to spare, sit yourself down in a quiet spot and consider the following points. Having done so, you will be in a better position to decide whether therapy is a good option for you and your partner.

1. Be Open to Change – This might seem like an obvious fact but you would be surprised at how many people approach couples therapy with the belief that it is the other partner who needs to change and not them. Unless both of you are open to the possibility of change, therapy may not be as effective as you would like.

2. Be Willing to Listen – Most people love to talk about their feelings when given the opportunity but if you are going to make an investment in couples therapy in Toronto, you need to be ready to listen as well as to speak. If you are ready to discover what is making your partner unhappy, as well as what is causing you grief in the relationship, couples therapy is more likely to be effective. If you want a sounding board, friends are wonderful, but if you want to improve your relationship, listening to your partner in couples therapy is more useful.

3. Think about What You Want – While it may not be possible for you to establish exactly what you want from the future, you should spend some time thinking about why you are unhappy in your relationship and what you would like to change, before starting therapy. If you have a good idea of what you would like your life with your partner to be like, it will be much easier to express yourself during therapy sessions and to communicate your feelings to your partner.

For further information on what to expect when starting Couple Therapy Toronto, please do not hesitate to call during office hours. If you are unable to call during normal business hours, you can always send an email and request a call back at a time that is convenient for you. Esther Benbihy, our resident Registered Psychological Associate in Toronto, is a caring and dedicated professional therapist who is committed to helping couples in the area resolve their relationship issues and go on to lead happy, fulfilling lives together.