Marriage Counseling Versus Individual Counseling
When Sam and Theresa entered marriage counseling, both were willing to try anything to save their marriage, which was rapidly declining. Sam had spent several years in the armed forced, fighting overseas. Upon his return, Theresa had this to say:
He’s not the man I married. He’s angry all the time. He has outbursts at the slightest provocation. I don’t even take it personally anymore. I just…I just stay away from him and he stays away from me. It’s not a marriage, it’s a living situation. A very strained living situation. And I’m tired of it.
The counselor heard the concern in both of their voices as they discussed their feelings surrounding their failing marriage. In particular, the counselor suggested that Sam seek individual counseling in conjunction with couples therapy.
While marriage counseling can aid a couple, there are times when individual counseling may be more effective. In the case of Sam and Theresa, Sam was suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and needed the aid of individual counseling for several months before resuming marriage counseling with Theresa.
Often, when one of the individuals in a partnership is suffering, it is more prudent to seek a situation where they can talk openly about his/her issues without the input of the partner.
Sam and Theresa eventually resumed counseling together, when Sam was feeling more confident to address the problems they were having together. His outbursts decreased and Theresa felt that she was rediscovering this man that was her husband: the same but changed. She was ready to accept and move forward.
Related Posts
- Counseling – Individual versus Couples
- Individual Problems that Lead to Couples Counseling
- Individual Counseling Supports Adults Taking Care of Parents
- Criticism Versus Complaining
- His Needs Versus Her Needs
Hi. Is it ever OK for a therapist to do individual therapy with a person while also doing couples therapy with that same person and her spouse?