Relationship issues

Many couples who experience a bump in the road in their relationship turn to counseling for help. Some people do not realize the differences between holistic counseling and traditional counseling when they are trying to work out relationship issues.

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.

A couple’s individual disagreements and communication problems could be symptoms of a much greater issue – one that will never be addressed by traditional counseling. In most cases, when two people are in need of counseling, 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.

This counseling is entirely focused on helping partners reclaim that balance and wellness for themselves and for their lives together. A balanced partnership is one founded upon feelings of love, trust, intimacy, and joy. As such, all holistic therapy will focus on enhancing these aspects of the bond.

The holistic approach is best for two people who feel like their relationship is out of balance, particularly if they believe that their disagreements are a symptom of a larger issue. Relationships lacking in joy, intimacy, or positive communication can benefit from this method. Through holistic therapy, partners can explore these issues and learn 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 benefit of holistic counseling is that it is far less likely than traditional counseling to result in psychiatric medication being prescribed for one or both parties. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and sleeping pills are often recommended for one or both people by traditional counselors. Sometimes, these drugs serve only to increase problems between two people. They can cause sexual issues or even change an individual’s personality to some degree, creating another rift. That is not to say that drugs are inappropriate for every case, of course. Unfortunately, many modern practitioners use medication as a first line of defense rather than a last ditch resort. 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.