People often say that “marriage takes work,” but often don’t get down to specifics. Here are eight ways that healthy couples regularly work to make their relationships last.

Couples therapy is a huge investment in time, money, and emotional energy. But more importantly, your relationship is one of the bedrocks of your life. When you want things to work, it’s paramount that you get what you need out of the couples therapy experience. Not only do you need a good therapist, you need one that won’t make things worse. Here are some red flags to be on the lookout for.

As a couples counselor, I get worried for people when I hear bad marriage advice floating around the world. How many times have you heard “Don’t go to bed angry” as advice to newlyweds?

In couples counseling, I try to help clients create an attitude and environment of emotional safety for each other. It’s important for a person to feel emotionally safe before they can express vulnerability. Then, if they do take a risk and express vulnerability, it’s very important that their partner has a positive, rewarding response (or at least not punitive).

Couples counseling is an investment in one of the most important relationships in your life. Although your couples counselor is the primary director of the process, there are several ways that you can make yourself as active a participant as possible. Below are six tips for couples counseling that will help you get more out of the experience.

Most couples who go to counseling together are hoping to learn about effective communication skills. Although we all know that good communication is essential to a thriving relationship, it’s tough to nail down exactly what that entails. In couples counseling, I work with clients by helping them change their interaction. Each person works on adjusting their manner of communicating so that they come closer to a middle ground of understanding.

So, what can couples counseling teach you about effective communication in relationships? Below is just the tip of the iceberg about what couples counseling has to offer:

It’s understandable that some people are reluctant to try out couples counseling. There is a lot of misrepresentation in TV and movies. And because relationship struggles are often kept private, you probably won’t hear from your friends and family who tried out couples counseling and had a great experience. Deciding to come to couples counseling is hard enough without misinformation about how it works and what it can do for you.

To help you know what to really expect, I’ve broken down some myths about effective couples counseling:

If you’re feeling stuck or confused in your relationship, you might be wondering if couples counseling can provide clarity and way forward for you and your partner. Or maybe you’re already planning to go couples counseling, but you’re not sure what to expect.

To help you understand how couples counseling works, let’s delve into five truths about effective couples counseling:

As someone who relocated to Rhode Island from nearby Connecticut, I have loved immersing myself in Rhode Island culture. The beaches, seafood, and likelihood of bumping into someone you know all make Lil Rhody a special place. But just because they live near a beach doesn’t mean that Rhode Islanders sometimes struggle in their relationships and need support from a trained professional.

If you are looking for help in finding just the right couples therapist, here are some places to start your search:

Many couples therapists in Rhode Island nowadays are offering a consultation call before you book your first therapy session. This is beneficial for both you and the therapist, so you can make sure you’re a good fit for each other. Feeling out the therapist before you commit to a session can save you a lot of time and energy. But you might be wondering, What should I ask in the consultation? What will the therapist ask me?

Every consultation will be a little different, but here are some topics that are likely to come up: