Couples who go to therapy and work as a team are happier

Living as a couple entails facing certain challenges that are a natural part of the relationship between two people with different life histories. Living in harmony and seeking balance between the two parts requires that both individuals manage to grow and adapt to the changes that will inevitably arise.

In my experience of more than 20 years I have observed that challenges strengthen couples when they are faced responsibly and both people decide to work as a team towards shared goals.

• Related article: "How do you know when to go to couples therapy? 5 compelling reasons"

What are the main challenges facing couples today?

Living in Cancun, this beautiful city that many of us call "paradise" carries in itself the challenge of adapting in many ways: to the climate, to living far away of relatives and friends of origin, to the schedules and calendars that many times depend on the tourist activity, to look for a more healthy... And in many cases the challenge is even in adapting to a better lifestyle.

One of the main challenges that have been present most frequently consists of take a healthy distance from mobile phones and social networks. The excess of the cell phone in many ways has come to cause distraction and distance between the members of the couple if the appropriate use of the technology that we have at our fingertips is not taken care of constantly.

Regarding social networks, there has been an increase in the time we spend uploading photos and content, showing our dishes, dream trips or interacting with other people through the screen. In this case, the challenge is to be able to disconnect and dedicate more time to “face-to-face” life and pay respectful attention to the conversations you have with your partner, look her in the eye, maintain a dialogue with empathy and moving away from the "smartphone" for as long as necessary.

It is important that we are the ones who have control over the time we spend browsing within any social network and not the other way around, that Instagram or TikTok dominate us with their beautiful photos and their entertaining videos.

Another relevant factor with which I have had to work in recent years is that of couples young people who arrive in Cancun and have one or two children whose ages are generally under 12 years. For “this team”, the challenge is to accommodate their work and personal activities in order to support each other and get ahead with a dynamic that is as balanced as possible. Today, mom and dad share the responsibility for their children and in this city they must seek or create their support network so as not to neglect their relationship as a couple.

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What are the benefits of couples therapy?

The main benefits that can be obtained when a couple decides to go to Therapy are the following.

1. Improved communication

It is not a myth, communication is the basis and is the essence for a good relationship. In therapy, people obtain tools to learn to listen to "the other" and to express their point of view with clarity and respect.

• Related article: "The 10 basic communication skills"

2. Change the perspective of the two people

Therapy helps to understand what is happening in the relationship more clearly and from the "perspective" of the other. During the therapeutic process it is possible to stop the habit of looking for who is to blame and it is replaced by a work plan to reach agreements and commitments that can be met.

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3. Strengthens the relationship

Therapy improves self-esteem and quality of life in each person. Consequently, it improves the couple and makes the relationship grow and become stronger.

• Related article: "Do you really know what self-esteem is?"

Recommendations for people who want to improve their relationship

Above all, it is important pause in the rhythm of life they lead, identify in time what is happening to them and act on it.

When the lack of tolerance is present in daily life and the anger begins to be more constant, when the mistrust "is installed in the living room of the house", when they stop having fun or decrease their activity in sexual life, It's time to see a specialist to help them resolve the crisis and reestablish their connection as a couple.

Currently, seeking help from a professional psychologist is just as important as going to the gym, a nutritionist or a specialist doctor to work on particular issues. Investing in our emotional health is a need that must be covered with responsibility and that has the great advantage of being the catalyst that drives the necessary changes to achieve the objectives that we want to achieve in the short term, thereby achieving a better quality of lifetime.