To Have and To Hold: Therapy’s Impact on Relationships

by Nicole Houck

For many people, the month of February is all about love. Whether it's a special night out with your partner or a Galentine’s night in with your best friends, this month is a great opportunity to show a little extra love to those you care about. However, self-love might be the key to unlocking the true potential of all other relationships.

Understanding yourself not only helps your friends and romantic interests understand you but also helps you better understand them. The National Alliance on Mental Illness mentions here that therapy increases self-awareness, which can directly benefit relationships. By better understanding your unique symptoms and triggers, you can more clearly communicate with those in your life, which can prevent miscommunications. Therapy can also teach you some tools to communicate your own needs in a way that is true to your feelings but doesn’t encourage conflict.  You can even attend group therapies with a friend or loved one!

The American Psychological Association has a webpage dedicated to a couple’s therapist, Dr. Andrew Christensen, who provides unique insight into the link between mental health and relationships. He mentions a universal struggle inherent to romantic relationships. Being intimate with someone in various ways, retaining your independence, and having the skills to manage conflicts all combine to pose a unique challenge. Dr. Christensen specifically focuses on integrative behavioral couples therapy, often called IBCT. This kind of therapy aims to create a new emotional understanding between partners, allowing them to make positive, lasting changes. According to a National Institutes of Health study, 97% of included couples recommend Dr. Christensen’s program. To bring more information on couples therapy to the public, Dr. Christensen teamed up with a colleague to create and share a website. If you’re interested in learning more about relationships, you can visit this site, which aims to increase public understanding of couples therapy.

While we are on the topic of mental health and relationships, I wanted to mention one last thing. It is important to remember that your friend or romantic partner is not your therapist or counselor. If you believe you might benefit from therapy, you should reach out to a professional counseling practice.