How Couple Therapy Saved Our Marriage
I’m ready to share a little something close to my heart – my partner and I’s journey through couples therapy. Yep, you read it right! I’m about to plunge into the nitty-gritty of how therapy turned our marriage around.
It’s normal to deal with challenges as a couple, especially if you’re transitioning from a fun dating phase to a long-term commitment like marriage. I mean, no one’s prepared for this; it takes a lot of effort and compromise. We might hear stories from married people here and there, but let’s be real - it’s SO different when you’re the one experiencing it firsthand.
My husband and I dated for almost a decade before tying the knot. A lot of people assume that it would be smooth sailing since we have been together for so long, but I wanna emphasize again that it’s not all about how long you’ve been together; it’s about how willing you are to fight for the relationship when obstacles come in.
I’m sure just like other married couple, a few years into our marriage, we hit a bit of a hump. We were both doing our own thing, partying separately, and it almost felt like we were growing up … but separately. We had been together from a young age, so of course we would experience these growing pains. It was tough, let me tell you. We were at a crossroads, wondering if we had what it takes to make it work.
So, I suggested trying couples therapy. We took the plunge - and I am so glad we did.
Now, let's break it down a bit.
my husband was in full denial…
Emil was reluctant at first - he thought we didn’t need therapy; that our issues could be resolved together without another party’s help. He was in full denial mode, which I totally understood. I mean, who wants to admit they need help? It’s still a stigma, but let’s be honest - we've all been there.
Our Therapy Session
Fast forward to our therapy sessions. I’ll start by simply stating: they were eye-opening. Having someone else in the room to mediate our conversations? Actually, it was like a weight lifted off our shoulders. Our therapist was amazing – she really knew how to get us talking and listening to each other in ways we hadn't before.
The homework that saved our marriage
After several sessions with lots of tears and admittedly, some ending in anger, we were given some much-needed homework. Now, this part is where it gets interesting. Our therapist asked us to write letters to each other, imagining our future on our 10th wedding anniversary. This took time and we both had to dig really deep to envision what our life would be like at our 10 year anniversary. Our therapist asked us to read these letters to each other in one session and talk through why we felt so strongly about why we visualized our relationship to be like what we described in our letters. I still remember Emil’s letter hitting me right in the feels. It made me realize how much our marriage meant to both of us.
So, why am I sharing all of this with you? Because I want you to know that therapy isn't just for when things are falling apart. It's a tool for growth, for strengthening relationships, and for navigating life's ups and downs together.
If you wanna watch and hear the full video of us sharing our experience with couples therapy, subscribe to my podcast ‘Yours Truly, Trisha’ on Youtube and all music platforms. You can also follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok to keep you in the loop with more fun and laid-back conversations with me and my guests!
This therapy session taught us that love isn't just about the good times; it's about facing challenges head-on and coming out stronger on the other side. It wasn't always smooth sailing, but hey, nothing worth having ever is.
If you’re reading this, maybe it’s a sign to start embracing growth, facing challenges with grace, and never giving up on love.
Thank you so much if you make it this far :) Until next time, friends! xo