Feeling Stuck in Your Marriage? Why It Happens and How to Move Forward Together
Feeling Stuck in Marriage Doesn’t Mean Your Relationship Is Broken
Many couples come to me saying:
“Nothing is wrong… but something feels off.”
Feeling stuck in your marriage doesn’t always look dramatic.
Often, it shows up quietly - through distance, routine, or emotional disconnection.
And it’s far more common than most couples realize.
A couple sitting together on a park bench, reflecting the quiet emotional distance many partners experience when they feel stuck in their marriage. This image represents the possibility of reconnection through intentional support such as couples therapy in California.
What “Stuck” Really Means in Long-Term Relationships
Feeling stuck often includes:
The same arguments on repeat
Less emotional or physical intimacy
More logistics, less friendship
Avoiding hard conversations
A sense of coexisting rather than connecting
This isn’t failure - it’s a sign your relationship needs new tools, not a new partner.
Why Couples Get Stuck (Especially After Big Life Changes)
Major transitions can shift relationship dynamics:
Parenthood
Career changes
Health challenges
Loss or grief
Years of unspoken resentment
Over time, couples fall into patterns that feel familiar but not fulfilling.
Without intentional repair, distance becomes the default.
How the Gottman Method Helps Couples Get Unstuck
The Gottman Method focuses on strengthening:
Friendship and fondness
Emotional attunement
Conflict management
Shared meaning and rituals
Rather than rehashing every past argument, couples learn practical skills they can use immediately.
A couple sharing a relaxed moment together at home, symbolizing emotional safety, reconnection, and the kind of closeness couples can rebuild through marriage counseling and relationship support.
Why Workshops Can Be Powerful for Couples
Not every couple needs weekly therapy to move forward.
That’s why I offer the Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work Workshop, based on the bestselling book by John Gottman.
This 10-week virtual workshop helps couples:
Communicate without spiraling
Understand each other’s emotional worlds
Manage conflict more effectively
Rebuild trust and connection
Feel like a team again
All in a structured, supportive, and non-judgmental space.
Who the Seven Principles Workshop Is For
This workshop is ideal if:
You feel disconnected but still committed
You’re tired of the same unresolved arguments
You want tools, not blame
You want to strengthen your marriage proactively
You don’t need to be in crisis - just willing to grow together.
If You’ve Been Waiting for the Right Moment… This Is It
Staying stuck isn’t a failure but staying unsupported doesn’t have to be the plan.
If you’re ready to invest in your relationship with intention and care, the 10-week virtual Seven Principles Workshop is a meaningful place to start.
At Thrive Therapy & Counseling, we help couples move forward not by reinventing their relationship, but by strengthening what already exists.
Author’s Note
This blog is intended for educational and reflective purposes only. Every couple’s experience is unique, and what works for one relationship may look different for another. My goal is to invite curiosity, compassion, and conversation—not to prescribe or replace individual therapy.
