Holistic Therapy for Couples - Creating Balance In Your Life And Relationship

By Stephen Daniels

Many couples who are experiencing trouble in their relationships wisely opt to see a counselor for help. However, many may not realize that there are differences between holistic counseling and traditional counseling. These differences can really come into play when trying to work out issues in a relationship.

Traditional counseling typically focuses primarily on the issues the couple brings to the session to discuss, whether they are subjects of frequent arguments, one partner's hurt feelings, or intimacy issues. Working on these surface issues can be helpful, but this approach acts more as a band-aid to cover only visible wounds while ignoring the imbalance between the partners that could be causing the wounds.

Individual disagreements and communication problems within a couple may be symptoms of a much bigger issue - one that will never be addressed by traditional counseling. Often, when two people need of therapy, both the individuals and the couple as a unit are out of balance and need a more holistic approach to help them heal themselves and their relationship.

Holistic Counseling is completely centered on assisting partners in reclaiming that balance and wellness for themselves and for the relationship. A balanced partnership is one founded upon feelings of love, trust, intimacy, and joy. The right holistic therapy will focus on increasing these aspects of the bond.

The holistic approach is excellent for people who feel like their relationship is out of balance, particularly if they suspect that their arguments are a symptom of a bigger problem. Relationships that don't have enough joy, intimacy, or positive communication can benefit from this method. Through holistic therapy, partners can explore these issues and discover new ways of thinking about their bond with one another.

Holistic therapy may particularly appeal to people who find a traditional therapist's approach off-putting. Some participants in typical therapy sessions feel like they are being involved in a moderated debate; others even think their partner and the therapist are ganging up on them.

Another big plus of holistic counseling is that it is far less likely than traditional counseling to result in medication being given to one or both parties. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleeping pills are often prescribed by traditional counselors. Sometimes, these drugs serve only to increase relationship issues problems. They can cause sexual problems or even change an individual's personality to some degree. This can cause yet another rift in an already fragile partnership. While drugs are not inappropriate for every case, many modern practitioners use medication as a first line of defense rather than a final resort. There is no doubt that swallowing a pill is easier than changing a couple's worldview or the way that they work with one another.

Holistic therapy should not be viewed as a quick fix to relationship problems. However, it will reach down to the roots of the bond to improve the couple as a whole as well as both individuals. It is an approach designed for partners who desire true balance in their lives, both together and separately. - 30309

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