A happy marriage and marriage therapy are two interconnected concepts. Like any other relationship structure, married couples may sometimes face problems. These problems can range from minor issues to larger ones.
In cases where married couples cannot resolve issues among themselves, it is essential to receive marriage therapy support. So, what is marriage therapy? In this article, we will examine the concepts of a happy marriage and marriage therapy in detail.
Contents
The Concept of Marriage
The meaning that the concept of marriage carries for individuals shapes the entire marriage process. In fact, the always-debated concept of a happy marriage is shaped from the very foundation of what the concept of marriage means for married individuals.
Marriage is a collection of expectations. Starting from a certain emotional closeness, marriage shapes itself through these expectations, evolving the relationship into a marital bond.
The relationship is the process of constructing the concept of “we.” The individual, through the relationship, re-discovers their ability to be themselves while being with another. The “I” concept, built on the foundation of “we,” and the process of rebuilding all meanings during the relationship signify the concept of marriage as a sum of expectations. In this sense, marriage is not a “happy ending” as defined by unrealistic fairy tales, but rather the beginning of a process where everything is reshaped on the basis of “we.”
The concept of marriage, like many other meanings filled throughout life, is shaped by the influences of the environment in which we grow up. However, reflecting on these meanings, researching them, and reconstructing them according to changing environmental factors is essential for building healthy relationships.
What Problems are Encountered in Marriage?
When marriage is defined as a process in which the “we” concept is reshaped, the problems encountered in marriage are a natural outcome of this process.
Marriage, as a collection of expectations, only indicates a healthy functioning when problems occur. The construction of the “we” concept, the collection of expectations with newly created meanings, and the unfolding of these elements through a process make problems inevitable.
Problems encountered in marriage may vary from person to person but can generally be listed as follows:
- Infidelity or being cheated on
- Insecurity
- Jealousy
- Violence
- Compatibility issues between partners
- Communication problems between spouses
- Unhappy marriages
- Addictions
- Indifference or lack of interest between partners
- Sexual life issues
- Family communication problems
- Issues with children
- Cultural differences between partners
- Problems between the families of the spouses
- Indecision about divorce or inability to divorce
Marriage therapy offers constructive solutions to natural and healthy marital issues. Marriage becomes happy and healthy when problems are solved through shared meanings. In this sense, marriage therapies provide interventions in the individuals' shared worlds, enabling constructive solutions.
The Concept of a Happy Marriage
Marriage is not a “happy ending,” and thus a happy marriage does not mean a problem-free marriage. The presence of problems indicates the natural and healthy functioning of marriage.
The relationships where different meaning worlds are reshaped through “we” can only be solidified and transformed into strong marriages through conflicts. The marriage process, where each partner constructs the other’s meaning world through their own, can only be firmly established through conflicts and problems. In this sense, a happy marriage does not mean a marriage without problems; rather, problems develop as natural maneuvers within the marriage.
A happy marriage is one in which problems are experienced but resolved through the shared meaning worlds of the partners. As long as problems do not become constant, they indicate healthy communication. Through healthy communication, the shared meaning world can be constructed on the foundation of the “we” concept.
The Key to Happy Marriages: Marriage Therapies
Marriage therapies provide individuals with the opportunity to rediscover themselves within the marriage process and enable couples to create new meaning worlds together.
How are marriage therapies conducted? In the first session of marriage therapy, couples are listened to individually. At this point, the therapist, as a listener and observer, aims to gather sufficient information about the couple's relationship cycle. Capturing the relationship cycle naturally occurring between the couple forms the foundation of marriage therapy and prepares the ground for the success of the application.
Under the therapist’s technical guidance, problems are addressed, and this creates a breakthrough in a problematic marriage where healthy communication has not been established. Each partner’s individual meaning world is scattered as a result of the conflict, and the first step is taken to reorganize everything that has been disrupted.
The therapist’s objective assessment ensures that mistakes made unconsciously, overlooked points, and situations that were not expressed correctly are revisited. Thus, problem-solving skills can be redeveloped through shared meanings, and necessary guidance is provided for practical application.
Marriage therapies do not aim for the couples to convince each other but to ensure they are themselves within the shared meaning. Achieving this step means that in the future stages of marriage, when problems arise again, the partners will become their own therapists. In this direction, problems naturally arise, but solutions are achieved through healthy communication and shared meanings, leading to happy marriages.
Ataşehir Marriage Therapy
Ataşehir marriage therapy includes expert and experienced psychologists in the field. Problems in marriage are one of the elements showing the natural functioning of the marriage institution. However, it is important to remember that not all problems have the same meaning or size. Married couples can benefit from Ataşehir marriage therapy to overcome unresolved problems and achieve a healthier relationship dynamic. For more information and to make an appointment for marriage therapy in Ataşehir, you can contact us at 0553 558 22 22 or 0535 607 81 08.
