Couples Therapy

 
 

Couples therapy is a specialized practice that requires the ability to see problems with how we communicate rather than what we are communicating about. Among many other things we teach effective communication as a foundation of our work, which allows couples to communicate about any topic, even if it has been “off limits” or historically laden with conflict in the relationship. We work with couples to identify patterns and create new relational experiences in our offices so you can practice new patterns in your day-to-day life, bring successes and failures back to therapy, and receive coaching and support to help you move forward.

 

 

 
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SPECIALTIES

  • Effective Communication

  • Abuse

  • Mental Illness

  • Relationship Dissatisfaction

  • Sexual Challenges

  • Conflict Resolution

  • Blended Family Challenges

  • Affair Recovery

  • Trauma

  • Transitions like Childbirth or Retirement

  • Relationship Dynamics and ADHD

WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF THERAPY?

We begin by meeting with both partners, taking a personal history and a history of the relationship including how you met, what you enjoyed about one another, strengths of the relationship and how you arrived at the current challenges. Your therapist will help mediate the conversation and navigate through tricky conversations. We continue by exploring the context in which the problems are occurring, including identifying influential family of origin dynamics, cultural inheritances, stressors, and supports. Once we identify communication patterns, we build empathy for each unique personality, cognitive framework, and emotional orientation to the world, making it safe to express individual perspectives in way where each person feels heard and respected.

HOW CAN COUPLES THERAPY HELP US?

Couples therapy helps romantic partners see the patterns in their relationship that keep them from experiencing life the way they want. We focus on helping couples understand how deeper emotional and psychological experiences drive conflict. We start by helping you see the same fights you've always had with a new understanding. We can work to understand what's behind the communication issues and bring vulnerability and emotional experiences to the therapy room. Once we all feel satisfied with your new understanding of your relationship and each other, we work on helping you take your new awareness home with you.

WHAT IF MY PARTNER DOESN’T WANT COUPLES THERAPY?

We understand this can be a challenge. When partners don't want to come to couples therapy, we still believe there is value in finding an individual therapist to work with through the relationship concerns you have. Sometimes it can be motivating for your partner to come to therapy if you are making positive changes yourself. Although we believe there can be a positive impact your relationship through therapy, the work it takes to make deeply impactful changes in a relationship requires both intimate partners in the room.

IS COUPLES THERAPY THE SAME THING AS MARRIAGE COUNSELING?

We use these terms interchangeably depending on what kind of a relationship you have. There's absolutely no difference between couples therapy and marriage counseling from a professional perspective. They're the same thing.