Couples Counseling

Excitement? Dread is a better word.

After a long day, you pull up to the house and see your spouse’s car – your heart drops. They’re home. Ugh!

Going into the house is not a good feeling because you dread arguing and walking around on eggshells to avoid the inevitable. The silent treatment isn’t much better, and you feel tired of living in a tension-filled house.

So instead of going inside, you decide to sit in the car. At least in the car, you can have some peace, and it allows you to get your thoughts together before you go into the house.

You finally take a breath, say a little prayer, and open the car door.

Life together is challenging.

As a couple, living together is not always easy. Communication can decline in quantity and quality, making you feel more like roommates than a cooperating couple. Such moments feel more like going through the motions.

Nothing is the same.

You no longer have a sex life. Everything your partner does annoys you.

Disagreements can arise, especially as life together becomes more complex. Perhaps, you don’t see eye to eye on finances/social life/work/parenting. Resentment begins to build, and neither of you can get past it. You don’t know how to resolve differences anymore.

Maybe, one of you either had or is considering having an affair. Now, separation seems like the only option, or you stay together for the children.

Perhaps, something significant happened in your life, and the two of you need help working through it. You may simply want to strengthen your relationship and improve communication.

Does any of the above sound familiar?

If so, couples therapy can help. These issues are why a couple seeks therapy to improve their relationship, and as a couples therapist, I can help.

Relationships have a history. We will figure out the existing patterns during the first few couples therapy sessions. By talking to each of you individually and together, I can understand the history and expectations each brings into the relationship.

We will identify the glue keeping you both in the relationship and your relationship’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s also essential to know a person’s expectations for the relationship and individual lives.

Then, we will determine the various stressors and conflicts in your relationship and your communication patterns.

Defining realistic goals is key to successful couples therapy.

Together, we will set realistic goals for the course of your couples therapy, and we will revisit those goals frequently over time.

Sometimes, one person in the relationship chooses not to continue the counseling. It happens, and this does not mean that couples therapy must end. Even if one partner seeks counseling, they can experience significant changes that positively influence the relationship.

However, with couples therapy, it is ideal if both partners commit to working on the issues together.

Relationships are not easy; they require work. Participating in couples therapy is also work – good work that will help you rekindle the friendship and love that brought you together.

Give us a call at (267) 438-2500 to make an appointment to start couples therapy.