Conflicts are part of everyday life in every relationship. Ups and downs are completely normal and occur in all partnerships. It becomes difficult when couples are unable to talk to each other about their own needs, pent-up frustration or possible disappointments.

If everyday life is increasingly characterized by arguments or you have the feeling that you are increasingly distancing yourself from your partner, then professional marriage and family counselling can be a helpful support. There are free counseling services offered by the state and churches that you can turn to.

A partnership means ongoing relationship work. Especially when the children are young, everyday life is often stressful: too much work and too many commitments, too little time for hobbies, friends and fun. And often too little time for togetherness. This puts every couple's relationship to the test.

Typical signs of relationship conflicts can include

• Fighting and frequent arguments over small things
• Feelings of frustration, disappointment, anger and injustice
• One or both partners withdrawing
• Unwillingness to talk
• Little communication between the couple.

If things are no longer going well over a longer period of time, there is a need for action. This doesn't always have to mean separation. Some couples simply need to learn to talk to each other again, to really listen to each other and to understand each other's needs. Perhaps the necessities of everyday life have made you forget what you have in common. It can be well worth giving the partnership a chance to find out where things are going wrong and what ways there are to put the relationship back on a good footing.

Marriage and family counseling can help couples improve their relationships and resolve conflicts. The trained professionals offer support in overcoming challenges and problems that can build up in a relationship or family over time.

The counseling service can be helpful in various life situations, for example with:

• difficulties in communicating with each other
• conflicts in the partnership
• conflicts in the family
• problems in dealing with the children
• stressful life events such as illness or the loss of a loved one.

Conflict-laden issues are usually difficult to resolve alone. All too quickly, there is a danger of finding oneself back in the same well-worn patterns of argument. Experience has shown that it is easier to address difficult issues with the support of a trained professional. Seeking support from a marriage and family counseling center can be a good first step in getting back into the conversation.

Marriage and family counseling is usually carried out by qualified professionals such as psychologists, social workers or couple and family therapists.

Good advice is always open-ended. Those seeking advice alone decide where the journey takes them. They are not pushed in any direction.

• First, you make an appointment, either online or by phone.
• In the initial meeting, you explain what your concerns are. Together, you will find out what you expect from the consultation.
• You and the specialist agree on the framework conditions regarding the goals, paths and desired results of the counseling process.
• Counseling sessions for a single person usually last 50 minutes, couples counseling sessions 90 minutes.
• The duration and frequency of counseling depend on the individual needs and goals of those involved. The frequency can be weekly, bi-weekly or tri-weekly.
• The duration of the consultation also varies. Sometimes just one meeting is enough. In most cases, however, counseling lasts several months.