“In order to be seen, you first must be heard.”
Do you feel alone in your relationship? Maybe it feels like you have nothing in common or are having the same fight over and over?
If so, you are in good company. In my experience, the main issue couples report is a problem communicating. Most couples naturally lack the listening skills needed to effectively communicate, thus decreasing intimacy and relationship satisfaction. I help couples to learn how to really listen, provide empathy, validation and problem solve together as teammates instead of adversaries.
What to expect from Couples Counseling sessions
The initial session is what I call the "meet and greet session". I will ask you questions about your relationship history, such as how you met, and also what you would like to accomplish through counseling. You will be getting to know about me and my therapeutic approach, as much as I will be getting to know you both. Building this rapport is important, because therapy is more productive when you are comfortable with your therapist.
After our first session, I will schedule one individual session with each partner to learn more about response styles and attachment issues currently impacting the relationship. I will also invite each of you to complete an online relationship inventory. This allows us to identify therapeutic goals and fine-tune our treatment plan more specifically. We will meet conjointly throughout the remaining course of therapy (typically 10 to 12 weeks).
Approaches I use:
Gottman Method – Increases intimacy, understanding, and respect to remove harmful barriers which prevent productive communication and development.
Emotionally Focused Therapy – Examines attachment issues and patterns of interaction to increase more secure emotional bonds.
Imago Therapy – Explores subconscious laws of attraction to transform conflict into opportunities for healing and growth.
Issues I address:
Communication Problems
Infidelity/Trust
Intimacy
Anger
Substance Abuse
Parenting
Blended Family
In-laws
Why participate in Couples Counseling
You may be worried that maybe things have been bad for so long it is too late for things to get better. Maybe trust has been broken and you are not sure you can ever get it back.
Couples Counseling helps to provide a safe space and objective point of view to guide communication in a more constructive and meaningful way. It is a systematic evidence-based approach to changing problematic patterns of interactions in distressed couples, thereby positively changing emotional responses to each other. Additionally, Couples Counseling assists couples in building fondness, shared meaning, a sense of connectedness and intimacy. While I cannot guarantee results, I can attest that things can significantly improve if both people are committed to the process and are open to change.