All relationships, even healthy ones, can have significant challenges. Couples often need assistance with improving communication, addressing problems with emotional and physical intimacy, managing a crisis, and learning to problem-solve in a more effective way.
I can provide a supportive, structured, and nonjudgmental environment that can allow you to productively explore areas of concern, find new solutions, and feel more satisfied in your relationship. I focus on helping couples to better understand the dynamics in their relationship, develop new tools and improved communication, and use empathy, humor, and constructive interactions to bridge gaps and solve problems in a new way.
Common issues that I help with include infidelity, emotional disengagement, sexual concerns, anger/resentment, parenting problems, struggles with alcohol and/or drug use, and difficulty communicating. I also work with couples who are in the process of separating or need assistance determining if they want to separate. If your partner is ambivalent about counseling I can meet with just one of you to provide support and guidance in how to better manage the relationship.
Many people entering couples counseling have concerns that the therapist will take someone’s “side”. When I work with couples I take a team viewpoint, meaning that either you both win or you both lose at having a healthy and satisfying relationship. There is not a focus on blame. I help each person understand how they contribute to the dynamic of the relationship and encourage both personal and shared accountability when addressing problems.
Typically I would meet with you as a couple for our first session, then I would bring each of you in individually for just one session. This allows me to gain some additional history about you. After that, we would meet again as a couple to continue with counseling. Homework assignments are often assigned as a part of therapy.
Counseling can help you to:
- Get through a crisis such as infidelity or loss
- Understand existing roles, expectations, and patterns in how you think and behave
- Improve how you communicate, handle conflict, and navigate needs for autonomy
- Explore and understand the strengths and vulnerabilities in your relationship
- Learn the importance of positive interactions, empathy, and friendship
- Understand how your personal history and family dynamics impact your relationship
- Re-establish emotional and physical intimacy and address sexual problems
I have received formal training in the Gottman Approach