COUPLES THERAPY
Are You And Your Partner Struggling to See Eye to Eye?
Do you both feel emotionally disconnected from each other? Are you having the same arguments again and again with no resolution? Does your spouse seem lost in their phone when you’re together? Have you lost the intimacy that you had at the beginning of your relationship?
Maybe you’ve gotten stuck in circular conversations that end up going nowhere and just amplify feelings of sadness or loneliness. Perhaps you disagree on how to parent your kids, manage your finances, or evenly divide your responsibilities. Over time, these arguments can start eating away at the foundation of your relationship. You might find yourselves feeling like it’s time to speak with a couples therapist.
About Couples Therapy
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Between all your demands and responsibilities, maybe you don’t have time to really nourish your relationship. Intimacy may be rare and the spark you once had may have burned out. As a result, the two of you might feel like you’re just roommates—you tolerate each other, but you don’t feel like you’re deeply in love.
If you want to get to the bottom of your disconnection, I encourage you to pursue couples therapy with me. I can I help you solve trust and commitment issues, break out of negative patterns, and deepen your love for each other in the process.
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Two people can get along well in the beginning of their relationship and then struggle to adapt as major life transitions happen. These transitions often include moving in together, having a baby, becoming new parents, sending kids off to college, managing elderly parents, and coming to terms with the aging process. Without a strong foundation of trust and understanding, it’s hard for couples to navigate these times of change peacefully.
What’s more, everyone brings different expectations, goals, and values into a relationship. If you and your partner were raised differently, it’s only natural that you’ll have different ideas about parenting, financial responsibility, and other topics. Bridging the divide means acknowledging your differences and learning to compromise for the sake of your relationship.
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Oftentimes, couples try to work through issues on their own. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Most of the time, couples get caught in a vicious cycle of conflict and don’t have the tools to get themselves out. They end up relying on strategies that once worked but now just amplify their loneliness and frustration.
It’s important to remember that what worked in the beginning of your relationship might not work now. That’s why counseling is so valuable—it can help you update your skillset and gain a new perspective on your marriage or relationship.
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When you’re in the heat of conflict, it’s hard to slow the conversation down and really tune into what each person is feeling. Therapy gives you a nonjudgmental third party who can help you slow down and successfully navigate tough conversations. Instead of pointing fingers, you’ll learn to communicate your feelings and understand the deeper issues causing you to clash heads.
Working together, I’ll help you and your partner set achievable goals for progress in your relationship. We’ll work on breaking the deep-rooted cycles that lead to confrontation and find ways to have more constructive conversations. My aim is to help you repair your connection, rebuild your trust with one another, and rekindle the spark you had when your relationship began.
What To Expect In Couples Counseling Sessions
My approach to therapy is adjustable depending on your needs. Generally speaking, I’ll see both of you together for the first session or two and then have individual sessions with each of you to discuss your concerns in detail. When that’s done, you’ll continue meeting together with me for the remainder of couples therapy.
If you have kids and you’re struggling with parenting, another option is to try family counseling. Working together, we can help all of you function better as a unit and make parenting much easier.
In our sessions, I will work to develop trust with each of you without alienating the other person. I’ll set boundaries so that both of you feel safe expressing your point of view. In therapy, you can peacefully and constructively work through your disagreements without experiencing more conflict.
Creating Your Couples Therapy Plan
Having trained in couples therapy at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, I will bring my expertise and experience to collaborate with you and your partner, the experts on your own lives. We will create a unique approach that meets your relationship needs and sets you on the path toward achieving your goals.
One of the main approaches I use with couples is called Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT). The goal of EFT is to help you use “I” statements to communicate your feelings rather than blaming or criticizing. In conflict, it’s natural to focus on what the other person did wrong; EFT teaches you to focus on how you feel instead.
I also draw from Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy (CBCT). This approach can help you identify and change negative patterns of behavior in your relationship. It emphasizes the importance of communication skills and problem-solving strategies.
Above all, I want to help you and your partner rediscover the. many good reasons you fell in love.
You May Have Some Questions And Concerns About Couples Counseling…
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Some couples arrive at therapy unsure if they’ve made the right choice. Many of them tell themselves: “Our relationship is not that bad. Do we really need counseling?” The truth is that every couple can benefit from working with a counselor. It isn’t a cry for help. In fact, it’s good to seek therapy before you think you “need” it. Couples counseling can give you the communication skills to work through problems before they even arise, ensuring that you’re prepared for whatever comes your way.
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My approach to marriage and couples therapy is neutral and unbiased. I don’t single anyone out, since it takes both parties working together to heal a relationship. I want both of you to feel comfortable, valued, and appreciated for who you are and how you see the world.
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The length of time you spend in therapy depends on your unique needs. Some couples spend just a few months in therapy; others find that a year or more is necessary for support. No matter the duration of therapy, I will encourage you to be kind to yourselves and remember that real progress doesn’t happen overnight.
Let Me Help You Peacefully Navigate Tough Conversations.
With the right help and support, it is possible for you and your partner to have difficult conversations while remaining kind, loving, and respectful to each other. If you want to learn more about how couples therapy can benefit your relationship, email or call me at 914-266-2584.