Here’s the deal. Every single couple is different, and the way you respond to marriage counseling will depend on a variety of factors, including each of your personalities, communication styles, and the specific issues you're dealing with. And even though we hate to see this and say it, it’s true that some couples see immediate improvements in their relationship after just a few sessions, while others may need more time to work through their problems. Needing more time doesn’t mean failure, for the record. It's important to keep an open mind and be willing to put in the work to make your relationship stronger.

How difficult (or easy) are I-Statements to use? I mean - they’re simple, in theory. So, the caveat here is that the formula might be straightforward and simple, but implementation isn’t necessarily easy. When you’re in the thick of frustration with your partner(s), it’s legitimately hard to fully engage your cerebral cortex (i.e., thinking structures in your brain) enough so that you can fully think about what you’re saying in the moment. When the emotional centers in our brain are loud, they overpower the thinking structures (which is why it’s hard to do this in the moment, although still simple in theory).