Sadly, the state of many Christian couples’ union falls far below the biblical norm. These partnerships, whether leading into marriage or in marriage, are not providing the satisfaction that God intended them to bring, nor are they the testimony for Christ that God wants them to be. One sinner in relationship with another sinner is always going to lead to problems, and these are just a few of the common issues that the Christian counselors in Saginaw have addressed in couples counseling.
Communication
No two people can effectively live together without a good communication system. If they agree, you can be sure that they have learned to communicate with each other. Communication is the basic skill needed to establish and maintain sound relationships. Without this, there will be a failure in the couple’s ability to nurture and deepen their union.
Given that men and women are wired so differently, there are many opportunities for a couple to misunderstand what the other person means or feels. Through couples counseling, they can get a better understanding of how each partner expresses himself or herself, and gain insight into how things like shutting down or hurling verbal assaults can damage the relationship. There are many practical tools available to improve a couple’s ability to communicate in an open, honest and loving way.
Money and finances
If you and your partner disagree about money and how financial decisions are made, you are not alone. This is an extremely common problem faced by couples. Christian counselors in Saginaw, Texas are well-equipped to help you reach a shared understanding on a biblical view of money and to take steps forward together towards unity on the matter. Debt can put a relationship under huge amounts of strain. But working with a counselor to reach a point where you have achieved victory in this area will be a significant victory.
Sexual unity
For a married couple, sex is an integral part of genuine unity and a means of expressing, confirming, and nourishing the oneness of marriage. Where there are sexual problems, there are typically other issues in a relationship that need to be unpacked, in addition to discussions around the topic of sex itself. Couples who are struggling in this area are advised to seek help and not continue down a trajectory towards a sexless marriage. This can open the door for an array of other problems.
Parenting
Children can either draw a married couple closer together or cause a wedge that drives them apart. Saginaw Christian Counseling can help couples bridge any gaps that have resulted during the parenting years. For starters, a couple might disagree over whether they should have any children, or have differing views about when they should start a family. They could be at odds about how many children to have, and then about how to raise their children. A counselor can help navigate these and other issues, pointing couples to the Bible as their final authority on raising children.
Family relationships
An otherwise healthy couple might be affected by family relationships close to them. This can be parents or siblings who are demanding or toxic and who end up being the source of conflict as each person holds differing views about how they should be handled. A Christian counselor will be able to work with a couple to understand the dynamics at play in in-law or other family relationships. The counselor will provide clarity and practical ways in which to handle the situation.
Addiction
When one person in a relationship has an addiction, either to a substance or something like porn, gambling, television or even food, it can put extreme strain on a couple’s relationship. Ideally, the couple will attend counseling together, and the person going through the addiction will attend individual or group counseling to work through his or her issues. If addiction prevails, the other partner may have no alternative but to end the relationship. But they will benefit much from the perspective and advice of a counselor who has seen similar cases and knows the effects and consequences of addiction on a couple.