Individual Relationship Therapy

Happy holistic counseling consultation

While a skilled therapist will avoid siding with one partner in individual sessions, indeed, focusing solely on one perspective might not give the full picture. It’s important to remember that individual counseling is often a stepping stone towards more effective couples therapy when both partners are ready.

Many men are more comfortable with a male marriage counselor. Many women say their partner won’t go with them to marriage therapy but can still benefit from working on the relationship and themselves on their own. Individual relationship counseling is NOT for bashing your partner. It is for working on parts of the relationship that you can change yourself.

When clients go to individual counseling to talk about their partner, they are actually more likely to get divorced or break up. This is because the therapist only hears one side of the story and typically naturally sides with the only perspective they hear.

Even the usually happy Ted Lasso needs therapy.

“If that’s a joke, I love it. If not, I can’t wait to unpack that with you later.”
Fictional Ted Lasso on Apple TV
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Some individuals may have decided the relationship is over, do not want to talk about trying to save it, and instead, want to talk about the most painless way to end things. Individuals may want guidance in finding a divorce attorney or figuring out the best way to split assets without an attorney. Individuals may wish to discuss concerns over the custody of their kids. While therapists can’t provide legal advice, individual relationship counseling can equip you with the emotional clarity and communication skills to make informed decisions about legal matters within your relationship. It can also help you explore support options and navigate the emotional challenges that often accompany legal processes.

While secrets are not encouraged to create healthy relationships, maybe you want to discuss how to disclose and repair an affair but aren’t quite ready to have your partner present. You may want marriage or couples therapy, but just not yet. Even members of extremely high-functioning couples often need help, even if mostly for their partner’s sake.

But You May Have Questions