If your relationship isn't working well, then you might worry that you have reached the end of the road. While some couples split at this point, you might not want to take this final step.

You might both find it helpful to book some couples therapy sessions at this point. If you feel that your relationship is worth saving, then this therapy can give you the tools to move forward together and build a better relationship.

How can a couples therapist help?

1. Learn to Communicate More Effectively

Some couples never really communicate effectively from the start. In the glow of a new relationship, they might not notice a communication disconnect. As they settle into their relationship, however, they see that they have a problem.

Other couples find that they stop communicating effectively as their relationship goes on. Life changes, such as marriage, buying a home and parenthood, affect the way they interact with each other. They no longer feel the connection they had at the beginning of their relationship.

Couples counselling can help you communicate more effectively. Your therapist can teach you to consider each other's needs as well as your own. During your sessions, you'll learn how to really listen to each other and to process what each of you says and thinks. Your therapist guides you to treat each other more empathically. The more care and consideration you show each other, the more effectively you will communicate.

2. Learn to Modify Damaging Behavior

The way you both behave in your relationship affects its success. If one of you is unhappy with the way the other behaves, then neither of you can be truly happy.

However, it isn't always easy to identify damaging behaviour. You won't always be able to convince a partner that their behaviour upsets you so much that it threatens your relationship. Even if you know that your behaviour is harming your relationship, you might not know how to change. You might be stuck in a cycle of negative actions.

Couples therapy gives you both a safe place to voice your concerns. Your therapist can help you talk about damaging behaviour in a non-confrontational way. They can help you find solutions to the problem.

3. Learn to Work Together as a Unit

If you're in a problem relationship, then you'll both find it hard to work as a unit. You'll act like two individuals. For example, rather than working on problems, you might both blame each other for things that don't work. You focus on your own needs rather than your needs as a couple.

A couples counsellor helps you come together as a bonded unit. They teach you how to look at things more objectively in the context of your relationship.

To find out more about couples therapy, contact local relationship counselling services.