Couples Therapy
Is your relationship struggling?
Do you feel alone in your relationship or marriage?
Are you and your partner arguing or fighting all the time?
Is your communication with each other riddles with criticism, defensiveness or personal attacks?
Do you feel not heard?
Are you both struggling with communication or trust issues?
Have you drifted apart and are not sure how to get back to the close connection and intimacy you once shared?
Are you trying to repair things after an affair or a breach of trust has caused havoc on your relationship?
Have life issues, such as differing parenting views, work pressure, or financial problems, taken a toll on your relationship and caused an increase in stress and conflict between you?
Maybe it’s the pressure of children that have affected the balance of your once satisfying relationship. Sometimes big factors begin to affect your trust for each other.
The arguing and fighting may be increasing or instead there is just distance. Sometimes the trust begins to unravel which can lead to shutdown or hurt or loneliness. Generally, each person has their own way of responding to difficulties which may be misunderstood by their partner. Are you walking on eggshells to avoid certain topics and communication as decreased or completely stopped, and opinions are not being heard or understood? You may start to feel hopeless, unsure if there is a way forward to fixing the issues you face.
Is it time for help from a trained couple therapist to help teach you skills and tools to improve communication and understanding? Are you ready to work with a therapist would can show you have to someone who can show you how to restore the romance and connection you used to have?
All Relationships have Bumps.
The connection we have with our romantic partners is one of the most important ones in our lives. This relationship can be a source of joy, security, and support when it is healthy and functioning well. However, if a relationship is experiencing some turbulence, it can cause great pain—especially if one partner is forced to confront some aspects of themselves that may be worsening the situation, such as interrupting, not listening well, substance abuse or a trauma of some sort. These things can place extra stress on a marriage or relationship. It’s difficult to examine our own behavior sometimes and we may not even realize that we need to do some growing and changing as well. It is easier to blame all of the issues on our partner, but it is not always productive.
Sometimes, life circumstances can be the source of relationship struggles, such as a midlife crisis; life transitions or raising a family. When facing this type of uncharted territory, we may need help to learn new communication or conflict management skills to handle these new challenges in your relationship.
In the united States the statistics on marriage and divorce are daunting.
43% of first marriages end in divorce,
60% of second marriages end in divorce,
And, a whopping 73% of third marriages end in divorce.
However, having a successful and satisfying marriage or relationship is completely within your grasp. Therapy can help you learn the skills to fortify your relationship so it is a source of happiness and stability. Growing a healthy marriage can be difficult at times, but learning to take time for our selves together, cultivate a strong loving relationship can be lots of fun at times and is very rewarding.
When you are ready to focus on your relationship the therapists at the Place for Counseling are here to support you and your partner grow and flourish.
What to Expect in Couples Therapy
At the Place for Counseling our goal is not to solve your problems for you, but to help you and your partner learn more effective communication skills in order to solve your own problems. By establishing clear goals for the counseling process and identifying your values and principles, we will work with you to restore your relationship to where it once was or maybe even stronger than before.
Couples Counseling Can Help Your Relationship Grow Stronger Than Ever.
At the Place for Counseling, it is our goal to help you both work together as a team to create the relationship you want. We believe that in order for this to happen, there must be some tradeoffs and compromises for each party. Couples therapy isn’t about changing one person, but about changing both of you. For example, if one partner is extremely sensitive to criticism, and the other is sensitive about feeling ignored, it will require effort on both your parts to improve your sensitivities to each other, rather than dismissing or trivializing those feelings. Making adjustments may be difficult at first, but remember the reasons you came to counseling — our relationship will improve by changing your attitude, even before you take specific actions.
Couples therapy works well when you set goals to change yourself, rather than to change your partner. You can’t change another person, and your partner can’t change you. You chose each other for a reason. Your chances of a successful relationship are best when you both commit to being the best partner you can be. Moreover, developing a healthy attitude toward conflict can help your relationship as well. Disagreements are unavoidable, but the way you weather them can strengthen your bond in the long run. We can show you the skills to do just that.
With counseling, you can learn from your past, adapt to new conditions, restore lost intimacy, and take action when you hit proverbial speed bumps. You may be feeling stuck right now, but this is not the end.
You May Have Some Concerns About Couples Therapy
We need help, but I’ve heard that couples therapy can be expensive and our insurance doesn’t cover it.
Couples therapy is an investment in yourself and your relationship. By developing a strong and lasting connection with your partner you can significantly decrease a lot of the stress and frustration you are both experiencing. Taking time to heal your relationship right now can help accomplish this. By taking action now, you may also avoid potentially expensive and damaging divorce proceedings.
At The Place for Counseling we work hard to keep our rates reasonable and our services full of value in your journey to get your relationship healthy again.
What if the Therapist Takes My Partners Side?
A good couples counselor remains impartial. At The Place for Counseling our couples therapists are trained in helping you heal your relationship. Our goal is not to take anyone’s side or shame someone for being “wrong.” Your therapist will create a safe, nonjudgmental space for both of you to freely express your thoughts, concerns, and fears.
What if our problems are too overwhelming or other even more painful issues come up?
It is true that couples counseling may lead to an awareness of other issues that you and your partner might be struggling with. However, when the focus is to learn how to bring positively and closeness back into your relationship, many times facing all of the issues in a safe place with a trained guide it essential to a stable relationship.
At the Place for Counseling our therapists provide caring, compassionate, and confidential guidance.
You Have the Power to Make Your Relationship Better Together
Relationships and marriages are hard and they take work and nurturing. Having guidance through the process of strengthening your relationship and learning to care for it in a healthy way can make all the difference.
With therapy comes greater understanding and some control over the choices you make in your relationship. Our compassionate therapists are here to help you in this journey.
Please reach out with any questions you may have. We offer a 20 minute free consultation if your would like to meet with your therapist first to see if it is a good fit.
