What does partnership actually mean?
Partnership is more than just a relationship; it is a living interplay of trust, closeness, and mutual growth. It arises when two people consciously choose each other, preserve their freedoms, and yet go through life together. A happy partnership has an enormous influence on our well-being and health. It offers support in difficult times, such as job loss or personal setbacks, and strengthens our ability to deal with crises.
Do you have questions about
Couples Therapy?
If you have any questions, feel free to call us or send us an email. We will be happy to advise you in a free initial consultation.
The journey of a partnership
Being part of a happy relationship has a significant impact on our general well-being and health.
In addition, the support we receive from a stable partnership is important in helping us to cope better with crises such as job loss or perhaps other misfortunes.
Crises are natural and necessary in a relationship. They help us grow and strengthen our bond with each other.
How we deal with change, how we support each other, and how we find each other in difficult times shapes the course of our relationship.
Whether it’s the ease of love when everyday life is confronted with parenthood or career changes, or balancing individual needs with those of your partner, every phase of a relationship brings new challenges. Relationships require continuous work, mutual understanding, and a willingness to grow together. This is precisely where the opportunities lie: by facing the challenges that change brings, we can grow as a couple and deepen our connection.
There are always moments when it becomes necessary to question our own perspective, seek new solutions, and break old patterns. Such phases of change offer the opportunity to get to know ourselves and each other better, to improve communication, and to develop more understanding for one another. This is not only about the big changes, but also about the small, everyday challenges that challenge us as a couple and at the same time give us the chance to grow together.
If we view these changes not as a burden but as an opportunity for growth, they can strengthen our relationship. They offer the chance to grow closer as a team, build deeper trust, and create a partnership that can withstand even difficult times. Change is not an obstacle but an invitation to become stronger together.
Couples therapy offers a safe space in which you can address the challenges in your relationship. It helps you gain new perspectives, improve communication, and use conflicts as an opportunity to strengthen your bond. By working on your relationship together, you can not only overcome crises, but also take your relationship to a new level. In therapy, you will learn how to grow together, respect each other’s different needs, and build a harmonious, fulfilling relationship in the long term.
Phases of a relationship
Partnerships go through different phases that challenge and shape us as a couple:
- 1Infatuation: The beginning is characterized by intense closeness and the feeling that this love will last forever, through the belief that “we will stay together forever.”
- 2Habituation: After a while, everything seems familiar and the relationship comes to a standstill. Your partner no longer surprises you, and you feel less inspired. We feel like we know our partner and their patterns inside and out and no longer feel as enriched by the other person.
- 3Focus on conflicts: The less pleasant and “unattractive” sides of the other person come to the fore, while we often overlook new, exciting facets.
- 4Fighting for the relationship: We fight for the relationship, expend a lot of energy, and are afraid of losing our individuality in the process. However, our many shared memories give us hope.
- 5Emotional roller coaster: Questions such as “What do I expect from life?” or “Is it worth fighting for the relationship?” characterize this phase, and there is a veritable chaos of emotions.
Going through different phases in relationships is completely natural and part of the process. Some partners find it easier or more difficult to get through such phases together, which is why it makes sense to seek external support before conflicts escalate to the point where the tension within the relationship becomes almost unbearable, especially if you feel like you are losing sight of yourself and your partner.
Do you have questions about
Couples Therapy?
If you have any questions, feel free to call us or send us an email. We will be happy to advise you in a free initial consultation.
Particular difficulties of a partnership
In order to successfully overcome crises, both partners must first recognize their desires and needs and become aware of their relationship patterns. Couples counseling can help them gain valuable insights. Only then can they learn to take each other’s desires into account while developing their own identities. Marriage counseling or couples therapy helps them see their differences as valuable contributions and enables them to rediscover each other, especially in long-term relationships.
Use your privilege – to have a partner at your side and learn to use crises for instead of against you!
FAQs
When starting couples therapy, make sure you choose a competent couples therapist: your therapist should be willing to talk transparently about therapy methods. You both need to feel comfortable and feel that they are loyal to you as a couple. In couples therapy in Cologne, both parties should always be able to communicate openly with each other.
Friends can be good conversation partners. However, they lack the distance and neutrality needed to provide effective, solution-oriented help in a relationship crisis. The knowledge and experience of a couples therapist with years of experience are invaluable. Talk as openly as possible about your relationship. Your couples counselor will help you communicate your needs in a loyal and objective manner, while being honest with yourself and your partner.
Yes, couples therapy can be very helpful in such cases. Even if the conflicts don’t escalate, unresolved tensions can damage trust and understanding in the relationship in the long term. That’s why it’s better to take preventive action and not wait until the last minute to address the problems.
You can easily make an appointment by phone or using the contact form on our website. We are happy to advise you!
Yes – with the help of couples therapy, a partner can be encouraged to change. For example, restructuring fears can help to overcome jealousy. Giving the other person more space creates a feeling of freedom and creates situations that strengthen mutual trust. Practical advice is part of our philosophy of couples therapy at the MVZ for Psychotherapy in Cologne.
Many of our clients feel a positive change after the first session. Together, we create a space in which your individual issues are addressed in a targeted manner so that you can quickly experience initial success.
Yes, even if couples keep going around in circles and feel like they are not making any progress, couples therapy can be very effective. The therapist helps to identify communication barriers and develop techniques that open up dialogue. The goal is to change the way conversations are conducted and enable new perspectives on old issues.
Couples therapy can provide food for thought. However, it is not the only factor that determines the success of a relationship. You as a couple are responsible for that. The couples therapist offers help in uncovering problems. He or she can resolve issues, develop insights, provide food for thought, and encourage the couple to make changes. It is up to the couple to implement these changes.