Perhaps one of the greatest fears of counseling is that the changes made will only last for a short period of time. This is true unless you institute the "power of habit."
Research says it takes 45-60 days of focused attention to change a bad habit into a good one. Marriage is different. It takes several months to make changes and then it takes nine months to keep the changes going in a positive direction.
In the book, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg habits are examined. The book talks more about how companies and organizations can use the power of habit. For instance, Starbucks once a company with 4 stores in Seattle has used the power of habit to become a worldwide power in coffee. They induce powerful habits by extensive and intense training of their workers.
By using the power of habit in counseling we can extend changes for a few weeks to changes for a lifetime. A good counselor can help you make sure positive changes are not just temporary. The concept is very simple but also profound.