Couples counseling involves both partners in an intimate relationship forming a therapeutic relationship with a trained counselor, at the same time. Couples counseling is often an important part of effective treatment for addictions, although not all treatment programs offer couples counseling. Typically, you can get couples counseling outside of your addictions treatment program, although it is a good idea to let your addiction counselor know so that the two therapists can collaborate to work on complementary goals.
The focus of couples counselling is on improving the quality of the relationship for both partners. Couples counseling looks at issues like communication, honesty, shared responsibilities, commitment, and mutual support. Problems such as abuse will also be addressed.
Many types of partnership can benefit from couples counseling, including married couples, couples preparing for marriage, co-habiting couples, dating couples, separated couples, and couples preparing for a divorce. Although originally developed as marital therapy, couples counseling now equally recognizes and works with unmarried couples, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples.
