text: Lancaster Couples Therapy - Thriveworks
  Couples Therapy – Couples Therapists and Counselors in Lancaster, PA
  Being in a relationship is never easy. Fairytales and princess movies make relationships seem as if everyone has their happily ever-after, but most people know, being a couple takes a lot of hard work and commitment. Relationships are never as simple as kissing the right frog. Every couple gets knocked off balance from time to time, and there are no fairy God-mothers to help out. However, there are couples therapists. More and more, couples are reaching out for help and going to couples counseling to help them regain their equilibrium.
  Couples therapy is not a magic formula, but skilled counselors can often help partners address their issues and regain their happiness.
  "I have my own high standards for what I want in a partner and how I want to be treated. I bring a lot to the table. I'm not talking about material things but what I have to offer as a person – love and loyalty and all the things that make a good relationship." —Jennifer Lopez
  Thriveworks Lancaster offers couples therapy because we know having a good relationship is easier said than done. Everyone needs a little help along the way, and our counselors have helped many couples.
  It is not just fairytales and princess movies that paint an unrealistic picture of what it looks like to be a couple. Many TV shows and movies give people unrealistic expectations for what their relationship can and should look like. If a couple is going to therapy to improve their relationship, what does a healthy, happy couple even look like?
  1. They acknowledge and even welcome their differences.
  No two people are the same. Couples are going to experience tension simply based upon the fact that they are two unique individuals in a relationship. Many couples experience even more tension because, as the saying goes, opposites attract. Happy couples embrace their differences as a strength of their relationship.
  2. They trust each other with their secrets.
  Happy couples do not withhold information from each other, but instead they confide in each other. Each partner sees this as a privilege of the relationship. Being vulnerable and open builds intimacy as a couple and bonds partners together. Happy couples are fully known to each other.
  3. They are respectful toward each other when annoyed.
  All partners annoy each other at some point. One partner may be a loud chewer. The other partner may be a loud snorer. Happy couples let these annoyances go. Instead, they focus upon their love and commitment to each other, staying focused upon what is most important.
  4. They are servants.
  Partners sacrifice and serve one another. Instead of splitting the work load 50-50, happy couples are committed 100 percent to serving and helping each other. When one partner has a need, the other picks up the slack—often times without being asked and without complaint.
  5. They are supportive of each other.
  Happy couples have each other's back. They support each other publicly and privately. They advocate for each other and support each other's dreams and goals. Happy couples do not put each other down, and when they have an issue to address, they do so respectfully and privately.
  6. Their time together is a priority.
  Great relationships do not just happen. Happy couples spend a lot of time together, even when life gets busy. Partners may need to schedule their time together, but if that is what it takes, they do it. Committed partners are willing to say, "no" to other activities that would take away from quality time together.
  7. They maintain their individuality within the relationship.
  Just because someone is in a relationship does not mean that they forget their unique interests or downplay their own needs. Happy partners can come together as a couple, but they can also take time for themselves when needed.
  Couples Therapy at Thriveworks Lancaster
  Think about your own relationship for a moment. As you read through these characteristics of happy couples, did you notice any ways your relationship could improve? If so, you are like most couples. Whether you and your partner have lost a spark or whether there is significant tension in the relationship, couples therapy may be able to help. Here are a few ways that couples counselors at Thriveworks Lancaster have helped their clients…
  Establish a feasible schedule for change. Some problems that couples face need to be addressed immediately. Others can wait. How can partners know the difference? Couples therapists can often help partners determine which changes will maximize the benefit within their relationship.
  Keep a neutral tone during discussions. When partners conflict, the discussion can easily escalate. In the heat of the moment, partners can hurl personal attacks and lose sight of the problem. Skilled couples counselors can help maintain a neutral tone.
  Is couples counseling the right next step for you and your partner? If so, know that Thriveworks Lancaster is ready to help. We offer couples therapy and have appointments available. When you contact our office, one of our scheduling specialists will answer your call and help you make an appointment. You may be meeting with your therapist the following day. New clients often have their first appointment within 24 hours. We also accept many forms of insurance and offer after-hours appointment times.
  Let's work together toward a happier relationship. Call Thriveworks Lancaster to schedule couples therapy.