The Relationship Issues Couples Therapists Hear About the Most
Relationships issues are natural and are actually a sign of a healthy partnership. After all, if you don’t care enough to argue about anything, that means you’ve emotionally checked out of the relationship, which is way worse than passionately disagreeing with your partner because you care. However, you may find yourself wondering whether or not your drama with your partner is normal. Well, we have the insider scoop from couples therapists - they’re revealing the most common issues they hear about, and how to resolve them.
Trust Issues and Life Changes
Sadly, infidelity is the most common issue couples therapists see. Couples counselor Alyssa Calderon reveals, "Infidelity doesn't have to end in a breakup, But it usually creates a distrust or lack of confidence that should be addressed." Calderon suggests looking at the relationship's underlying issues that may have caused the infidelity, rather than focusing on the cheating itself. In other words, the trick is to find a cure for the disease rather than the symptom. Another topic that tends to come up in couples therapy is navigating major life changes. Therapist Vanessa Bradden shares, "I see a lot of people becoming first-time parents, for example, who want to navigate [preparing for] young children because they understand how complex and challenging that can be on the relationship." This serves as an important reminder that couples therapy can be used to prevent relationship issues, rather than solely to solve problems that already exist.