Managing Career and Relationships in Couple’s Counseling
When Frank and Searah opened a new restaurant, they both felt as if they were fulfilling a lifelong dream. Both were seasoned chefs and Searah had run her own business prior, so they felt they were professionally prepared as well. Until the arguing began. Then they found themselves sitting before a marriage counselor, wondering if they had made the right decision:
As Frank put it:
The first 6 months have been hell. There isn’t one decision we need to make that doesn’t take twice as long as it should because of all of the squabbling. What’s worse is the staff sees us acting like this and then they don’t take us seriously. And I don’t blame them. We seem like two kids frankly. If we don’t figure out a way to get along better, our business is going to tank.
The couples counselor quickly went to work on a form of active communication between the two; a way they could quickly process what the other was saying and come to a firm conclusion, without tons of deliberation. At first, he worked on unrelated decisions for the couple then slowly integrated decisions that were directly applicable to the business. Bit by bit, the couple learned to make quick decisions with little to no arguing.
This form of therapy had immediate and practical implications for the couple. They needed to learn how to communicate better - and quickly, because their business was contingent upon it. Counseling can occasionally be an immediate - or at least a quick - repair, if the situation allows.
