Elizabeth A. Grill, PSYD

Closely related to family therapy, couples therapy is a type of counseling that seeks to help couples improve their relationship. A therapist may teach each partner in the relationship specific skills, such as managing or expressing their emotions, conflict resolution, communication skills, and problem solving. Both people in the couple need to be committed to learning new skills themselves as well as putting effort into supporting the relationship. The typical goals of couples therapy are to decrease conflict, unhappiness, and resentment, as well as increase communication, intimacy, and connection.

Couples therapy may be offered privately, at a university, or in a group practice. It is usually short-term therapy, lasting a few weeks until the participants have learned new skills and have the ability to repair their relationship. Its effectiveness depends on the willingness of both participants to commit to therapy and make the relationship a priority. For many couples it can be extremely helpful.

Mental health issues are typically diagnosed by a provider like a psychiatrist or a psychologist. These issues are diagnosed through psychological evaluation and talk therapy.

Mental health therapy can be an effective tool in supporting people who are struggling with unwanted feelings, behaviors, or difficult circumstances in their lives. Many forms of therapy are available, including specialized therapies tailored to particular disorders. For many issues, therapists help patients manage their conditions through talk therapy. Other treatments can include medication or stays at a psychiatric facility. Mental health therapy can help people with mental health issues improve their mental and emotional wellbeing.

During sex therapy, individuals or couples will talk about their sexual issue and their background. It is common to be given exercises to work on outside of therapy to improve communication, intimacy, or physical response. Sometimes these exercises bring up strong emotions, and then those emotions can be discussed during therapy. The goals of sex therapy are usually to obtain reliable information about sex, to improve verbal and physical communication between a couple, and to improve sexual performance.

Because of the nature of sex therapy and how vulnerable it makes most patients feel to discuss their sex life, it is extremely important to choose a sex therapist wisely. Referrals can usually be obtained via physicians or clergy, but it is also important to seek a credentialed therapist. The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) offers certification to sex therapists, which ensures proper training and education, as well as a strict code of ethics.