People often get perplexed when they hear about marriage counselling and couples therapy. Well, these terms overlap so much, that makes it hard to notice the basic difference between them. You may have heard these terms while seeking relationship counselling in UK or going for a couples therapy session to settle conflicts between you and your partner. But, what do they actually stand for? And what’s the basic difference between marriage counselling and couple therapy? We will learn in this article.

Read on to know more.

What Is Marriage Counselling?

Marriage counselling and couples therapy may seem alike in many ways. Marriage counselling, however, focuses more on present events than past events. Marriage counselling helps couples through their relationship issues. It can also help prepare an individual for future challenges in a relationship. Rather, it’s more focused on the couple’s education and support which may be helpful in smooth communication and enhancing conflict-resolution skills.

Marriage or relationship counselling online can:

  •         Help couples face struggles together
  •         Get a relationship on track
  •         helps you building a strong, happy foundation
  •         Reignite spark and mend trust
  •         Give an opportunity to talk through differences before the occurrence of a major conflict

What to expect in relationship counselling?

Generally, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) will lead you through the process of cooperating to create a stronger foundation for your marriage through marriage or relationship counselling. The counsellor will create a safe space for both sides to feel heard and understood, and both people in the relationship will be ready to express their thoughts and feelings. The couple will work together to develop solutions and methods to deal with the challenges you are now facing, with the counsellor’s assistance. Relationship counselling online sessions will help you to “kick out” your relationship issues by enhancing daily communication with each other and help you handle conflicts in a healthy and more effective way

What Is Couples Therapy?

Couples therapy uses a whole different approach than marriage counselling. While marriage counselling focuses more on the present and what is CURRENTLY happening in the marriage, couples therapy focuses on the past. Couples therapy asks for the history of your relationship and what has happened previously that led you to where you are currently. Couples therapy involves a lot of “unpacking” past hurts and identifying root issues. You will be able to handle the challenges of today by healing of the damage of the past and building a stronger foundation for the future. Many can relate attachment psychotherapy with couples therapy, except it deals with stressful challenges in the childhood of the individual.

Couples Therapy can:

  •         Tackle the root cause of your relationship issues
  •         Help identify certain areas of your relationship that should be focused on
  •         Look at the relationship’s past, arguments, and conflicts in the relationship
  •         Address the “whys” first, then focus on the “hows”
  •         Focus more on personal and individual issues both
  •         Deal with the resolution of conflicts
  •         Help you both learn how to communicate better in a relationship
  •         Be beneficial if you have disputes, infidelity, substance abuse, or parenting issues

There are not many differences between the benefits of couples therapy and relationship counselling in UK, but there are also some distinctions that set them apart. Couples therapy will be the best option if your relationship seems to be suffering as a result of issues that have occurred earlier in your relationship. There are many marriage or relationship problems that have deeper roots than what is happening right now.

What to expect in couples therapy?

You will attend psychotherapy sessions with a couple’s therapist or a counsellor, either in person or virtually. This therapist, much like a marriage counsellor, will hopefully offer a secure and welcoming environment where both parties may feel free to express their thoughts and concerns with their partner and be better heard and understood. A marriage counsellor and a couple’s therapist have many things in common, but one of the most important differences is the support they offer to the couple. A couple’s therapist will actively mediate the conflict, and help the couple in navigating and evaluating their relationship’s past problems while also providing them with tools and strategies to strengthen their relationship.

The Ending Note

Marriage counselling primarily deals with present-day events rather than focusing on the past. As a result, it focuses on the ‘now’ and the challenges of marriage so that you can repair your relationship. Couples therapy deals with both the present-day as well as any past experiences that have contributed to unhealthy patterns of communication. You’ll look back on previous arguments and fights and find out how they all started. Whether you’re looking for the best relationship counselling in UK or seeking a couple’s therapy session anywhere in the world, you must know the difference between couples therapy and marriage counselling.