Ever seen a professional chef at work before? It’s similar to how they explain relationships get more information. A marriage and Family counselor strives to create harmony among emotions, much like a Chef does with flavors.
Imagine trying to build a complex Lego set without instructions–frustrating, right? Couples are in the same boat when juggling both their personal lives and their relationship. Marriage and family counselors have a different perspective on life and can provide tools that will help you live a more harmonious and fulfilling life.
They were arguing over how best to load their dishwashing machine. Peeling the onion revealed deeper issues. Unspoken resentment, unmet expectation and more. The truth is that there’s a lot more to the story than meets your eye. To untangle the Christmas light string, you will need patience.
This career is filled with variety. You will never have the same session twice. The beauty of the profession is its diversity. It is never the same. The pace changes constantly, making things exciting and unpredictable.
Imagine yourself as a flight controller with emotional turbulence. For therapists, it’s not sufficient to offer general advice. They must know what drives their clients. John’s eye may shine when he talks about the passion he has for art. Jane, on the other hand, is validated because of her career. In dance you need to be able both to lead and to follow.
One fascinating aspect involves debunking myths. Many couples believe it is easy to love and that it should always feel blissful. As with maintaining a six pack, maintaining a relationship requires effort. Not the big things matter but the small ones. For example, asking your partner to describe his or day and giving them the remote without a single sigh is an example.
Families too can benefit from a therapist’s help to navigate change. Imagine the family is a ship, and the therapist is the navigator, helping it navigate through rough water. You may find it difficult to transition to a new environment, to cope with a tragedy, or to welcome a family member. The right support can help this boat reach calmer seas.
Have you noticed certain songs trigger strong emotions within you? This principle applies also to therapy. A word spoken at the perfect time or an ear listening can have a profound effect on how a person feels and behaves. This video reminds us of the power that words can have.
Take an elderly couple I know. They were married for over 40 years but contemplated divorce. The couple spent messy sessions with lots of tears, laughter and hard questions to discover what they really loved about each other. This story illustrates the resilience of couples as well as the beauty in discovering one another.
Never forget to take good care of yourself. The same is true for therapists. Before anything else, you should put on your mask as if on a flight. To be effective, the therapist has to recharge. Even a simple meditation or walk in a park can be beneficial.
What about a touch of humor? It’s amazing what laughter can do for you. Imagine that a heated conversation ends with laughter due to an absurd misunderstanding. Finding a hidden diamond in a thrift store can brighten your day.
The work a marriage and family therapist does is like gardening. You can water your plants with empathy after you have planted seeds of empathy and confidence. When you are patient and show care, it is possible to build beautiful relationships. Sometimes unexpectedly, but always profoundly.
When you’re assembling a Lego set or untangling Christmas lights, remember that patience and persistence will help turn the chaos into a beautiful thing.