In the beginning, relationships can be fun, exciting, and new. After a while when the honeymoon phase wears off the reality of being in an intimate relationship becomes clear. Relationships then become hard work by learning to walk a middle path. Some couples may find barriers in their relationship, and difficulty finding a way around it.
If you are in a relationship that is no longer feeling healthy, here are warning signs that it may be time to try couples counseling:
The relationship lacks trust
When there has been infidelity, it is very difficult for the couple to rebuild trust and repair the damage. While there is no guarantee a relationship can recover from an affair, working with a therapist can offer tools and strategies to rebuild trust.
Communication has broken down
Once you have a lack of healthy communication, it becomes difficult to share thoughts, feelings, and concerns with each other. Beyond this, unhealthy communication tends to leave one or both partners feeling depressed, hopeless, and angry.
Behaving in unhealthy ways
You try to hide your real feelings for as long as possible, but then you start to act out the hurt and resentment you may be feeling. For instance, if your partner has been unfaithful and you have agreed to stay in the relationship and work things out. But over time you find yourself lashing out, saying mean and hurtful things, and acting as if you are having an affair so they will feel the same kind of hurt. This acting out is unhealthy for both people and is a indicator you need to seek some help.
Just sharing the same space together
You may need to seek professional help if you and your partner act more like roommates than romantic partners, this indicates a lack of connection.
Thinking that separation/divorce is the only way to fix the problem
Getting space from negative energy, after a fight or finding out about an infidelity, can be very helpful. But when a temporary separation leads to more and more time away from home and someone moving out, this indicates a need for counseling. Spending time away from home usually does not solve the problem. It just adds more distance.
