Over the last several years, mental health awareness has become more prevalent. As the world has changed over the past two years, you may have noticed areas where you struggle with your mental wellbeing.
There are many approaches to improving your mental health, including going to counseling to improve your mental health. While it can be an essential step forward, sometimes the process seems to make a challenging situation impossible.
Here’s what you should know about the role of counseling in your marriage and mental health.
The conflict was (probably) already there
When you start counseling, whether it is individual counseling or couples counseling, it is critical to keep in mind that the process can shine a light on areas that were already troublesome. Therapists are trained in noticing the symptoms you overlooked so they can ask the right questions.
As your therapist walks you through the conversation, it may seem like you uncover issues you did not know were problematic. You should remember that these are likely not new topics, simply revealed ones.
Knowing what forward looks like
Getting control over your mental health can be a long journey. As you and your spouse start talking about the areas where you are struggling in your marriage, it can be challenging to feel like you are making progress.
Progress will look different for your situation than others. You should talk to your counselor about what progress will look like and what you can expect. While your therapist will not be able to give you a definite timeline, they can give you an idea of what is realistic for your situation.
In some cases, your first counselor may not be a good fit for your situation. If you feel like your therapist cannot support your goals, it might be time to start looking for another counselor.
