Therapy can be a weapon in relationships.

It can come across as:

”If you don’t go to counseling, I’m leaving!”

or

“You have problems and YOU need therapy”.

Ultimatums and mean spirited accusations are always detrimental to the process of growth and change for the relationship.

However, it's true that sometimes one or both people in a relationship actually do need therapy.

How do we identify who needs it and start the process without starting on the wrong foot?

There are two key factors:

1. Therapy needs to be kept in its proper place 👍

It is only one tool in the relationship toolkit. We can’t think of it as the answer to everything.

Therapy is best when we identify a focus for it instead of thinking of it as a “fix-all”. It can help to identify a focus for it.

Examples of this could be growing in emotional intelligence or regulating our emotions.

Therapy also isn’t the easy answer. You have to be willing to follow the guidance of the therapist and understand it will not meet every need right away.

2. If you thought of it, you might as well explore it first 🤔

Oftentimes, we recognize the need for change but can’t seem to get the other party to buy in.

However, when we change ourselves, it can have a profound impact on our relationships.

If we find ourselves considering the possibility of therapy for someone else, there is no reason we can’t begin the journey by going ourselves.

You will be surprised at how much this affects the other person and their openness.

Relationships are foundational to a fulfilling life. It’s worth giving our time, attention, and resources to improving them. ❤️

If we learn how to successfully maneuver in relationships, then we open ourselves up to deeper bonds with our friends, family and spouse.