“The more you invest in a relationship, the more valuable it becomes.”
Photo by Haley Powers on Unsplash
We all know successful relationships require work (see Everything You Wanted to Know About Couples Therapy), but kids, jobs, household tasks, unexpected stress can make it difficult to make it a priority. Especially when you keep having the same arguments or feel like you’re no longer on the same page.
Sometimes we need a professional who can see things we may not be able to, and who can act as a consultant or guide in helping our relationship get back on track.
Couples counseling can provide a safe space to resolve current relationship problems, but it can also be helpful in preventing an exacerbation of problems, or to simply receive a “check-up” during a period of transition or increased stress.
The sooner these problems are addressed, the greater likelihood that you can achieve peace in your relationship and your life long term.
Couples therapy can help you
slow things down
understand what’s really happening underneath the conflict
and find new ways to communicate and reconnect
Photo by William Stitt on Unsplash
You deserve a relationship that is a source of fulfillment and connection, rather than stress and frustration. With the proper skills and guidance, I can help you take your relationship to that next level.
Couples therapy can be helpful if you’re experiencing frequent conflict, communication challenges, emotional distance, or major life transitions. Many couples start therapy before problems become overwhelming.
How do I know if couples therapy is right for us?
A couples therapist helps partners improve communication, navigate conflict, and strengthen their relationship. Therapy focuses on understanding patterns, rebuilding trust, and developing skills to create a healthier connection. I use approaches that are backed up by research so that you and your partner can see progress as quickly as possible. I personalize counseling to fit what you're coming in with and what you're looking to gain.
what does a couples therapist do?
what can i expect from couples therapy?
We start out with 2 initial assessment sessions that are each 80 minutes long. This is so that I can understand the problem(s), your relationship history, family history, and identifying your goals for counseling, both as a couple and individually. Most couples continue with 50 minute sessions weekly, but many prefer 80-minute sessions either weekly or biweekly.
Once we complete the assessment, I will often use a combination of approaches that are personalized to your particular issues. These approaches include:
Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy
Gottman Method
Relational Life Therapy
Family Systems Theory
Regardless of the approach, you’ll be getting action steps and recommendations to make sure you're implementing what you're learning in between sessions, and we’ll be discussing progress and barriers together at our follow-up sessions each week.
Sessions are initially scheduled weekly if schedules allow. Once a fair amount of progress has been made, you and your partner may choose to come in on a biweekly basis or monthly basis for maintenance sessions. I strive to help you achieve deep, long-lasting change and for many couples, feeling "accountable" to checking in with me within a month or two or three can make all the difference in maintaining gains.
Yes, individual therapy can still focus on relationship patterns and help you better understand your role, communication style, and needs within relationships.