First vs. secondary marriage couples counseling

Lesley Cross, MA, LPCC-S

Acccepting new clients in the Worthington office

Traditional couples counseling and second marriage counseling both aim to improve relationships, but they have distinct focuses and approaches.

Traditional couples counseling typically addresses issues within a relationship, regardless of whether it's a first or subsequent marriage. It focuses on communication problems, conflicts, intimacy issues, and other challenges that couples face. Therapists work with the couple to identify patterns, improve communication skills, and foster understanding between partners.

Second marriage counseling, on the other hand, is specifically tailored for couples who are entering a marriage for the second or subsequent time. These couples often have unique challenges such as blending families, dealing with ex-spouses, and addressing trust issues arising from past relationships. Second marriage counseling often places a significant emphasis on understanding the dynamics of stepfamilies, managing stepchildren, and creating a harmonious family environment.

While the basic principles of communication, trust, and understanding are common to both types of counseling, second marriage counseling tends to focus more on the complexities that arise from blending families and past relationship experiences. It often involves strategies for creating a supportive and stable environment for the new family unit, taking into account the challenges that come with remarriage.

In both cases, effective communication, trust-building, and understanding are essential. The specific focus and strategies employed in counseling can vary based on whether it's a first or secondary marriage, addressing the unique challenges each type of relationship presents.