The hospital has appointed two psychologists who counsel up to four couples a day. "Sometimes up to eight couples come seeking help but we can only counsel four in a day," clinical psychologist at the hospital Jamuna Sangraula said. [break]
"First we counsel the husband and wife individually and later hold a common session," Sangraula explained.
She said that the number of couple coming for counseling services has been steadily increasing.
"This type of therapy involves identifying problems people have with their spouses and partners and finding ways to overcome them," she said. Sangraula said that psychologists help the patients mainly by assisting the couples identify the problem within their relationship. "We also help them make behavioral changes to keep their marriage functional," she added.
She identified sexual dissatisfaction as one of the main causes of marital discord but said most couples hesitate to talk about it. "The patients who come to us are referred psychological counseling mostly by psychiatrists in different hospitals. A majority of them complain of sexual dissatisfaction," she said.
Couples therapy involves learning how to communicate more effectively, and how to listen more carefully. She said relationship problems generally include individual symptoms like constantly arguing with the spouse. The patients may also be chronically anxious, angry or depressed.
Sangraula suggests couples to identify common life goals and share responsibilities within their relationships. “Some have difficulty in controlling temper while others keep arguing with their partner over trifle matter. Such problems spoil relationships and, if not resolved in time, eventually lead to divorce," she explained.
She said there are also cases of depression due to extra-marital affair of spouses, or just the fear of it. "Such suspicion may also lead to divorce. But psychological counseling can save such marriages," Sangraula said.
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