Attending a Couples Therapy Retreat is a personal experience. It is not uncommon for some spouses to be reluctant to get professional help with their marriage. This includes attending a marriage retreat or private counseling. How you communicate to your spouse that you as a couple need to get professional help with your marriage is critical.
The way you present the idea to your partner will determine how the idea will be received. Before you suggest getting professional help, you should first consider your fears.
Common Concerns
When a partner is reluctant to go to a Couples Counseling Retreat, it may be due to fears and concerns. A few of the most common fears include:
- The couples have gone to a retreat before, and it didn’t work.
- Your spouse might consider that you’re the one who needs help.
- Your spouse may think that your marriage is not that bad.
- Your spouse may think that the retreat won’t do you any good.
- Your spouse may feel hurt and angry, finding it hard to talk to or listen to you.
- Your spouse may think that attending the retreat is expensive.
- Your spouse may be afraid of being embarrassed by talking to other people about your issues
- Your spouse may not want to be blamed for what’s wrong with your marriage.
- Your spouse may not have sufficient information about marriage retreats.
How to Get a Reluctant Partner to go to a Marriage Retreat?
First:
If you and your spouse have never talked about Relationship Retreats in the past, provide them with some information about it. Avoid explaining the importance of retreats to your partner because they may not believe you. Instead, let someone else tell your spouse about retreats. You can give your spouse an email brochure of a retreat or ask them to check the website of the retreat.
You should then mention that you have been looking at the marriage retreat online, and it sounded like it will be helpful to your marriage.
Second:
Set aside time to talk about the retreat and ask your partner to avail themselves at that time. If they’re not available, ask them to suggest a time they will be free. Whenever the time comes to sit down and talk, tell your spouse that you would like to hear each other out. Ensure that you listen without interrupting and remind your spouse that your marriage is very important to you.
You can then talk about the things you feel are affecting your marriage and explain the mistakes you have made. You and your spouse can continue this conversation until you figure out solutions to your problems.
Third
When talking about going to Couples Retreat NY, there should be no selling, coaxing, persuading, or interrupting. You should be quiet and let your spouse talk if they want to. You should also not ask questions because your spouse may need some time to review the information. Once they review this information, you can easily listen to what your spouse says about your relationship.
Fourth:
If your spouse expresses they don’t want to go to the marriage retreat, you should try and see it from their perspective. You should validate their feelings and opinions even if you don’t agree. You should express to your spouse that this is important to you because you value your relationship with them. Before you respond to any concerns your spouse has, you should imagine yourself in your spouse’s situation.
This will make it possible to emphasize with them. Expressing you understand why your spouse doesn’t want to attend the retreat can make it easier for them to keep opening up.
Fifth:
If your spouse objects to attending a marriage counseling retreat, you should not defend or interrupt your position. If your spouse gives you an excuse for not attending the retreat, don’t assume that they don’t want to go. For instance, if they’re worried about the privacy of your relationship, you can explain that there are private retreats and group retreats. You can also suggest that your spouse does further research so they can understand your position.
This is a great way to show them that you care and respect their opinions in your relationship.