Relationships are all about teamwork. But what happens when your team isn’t working well together? Well, you can try to sort things out on your own. You can wait and hope for the storm to blow over. Or, you can call in some extra outside help.

You don’t have to do this on your own.

Couples counseling (also called couples therapy) is designed to help people deal with some of the most common relationships problems, such as:

Poor communication

Feeling misunderstood by one another

Frequent conflict, fighting or arguing

Major life decisions

Family stress

Abuse and controlling behavior

Issues with sex and intimacy

Financial stress

Differences in beliefs

No matter how bad things might seem, no matter how long you’ve been struggling together, and even when things feel hopeless – therapy can help.

Contact me to get the support your relationship deserves.

We Can Live On Love! Not Really :(

Love is all we need! This is a common mantra from engaged couples, and I wish it were so. But the truth is your commitment as newlyweds will be tested between the 6th month and the 2nd year of your marriage. As time goes by the dynamics of your relationship begins to change and you begin seeing your partner as they are “for better or worse” (pun intended). Partners begin to notice the other’s quirks, bad habits, money management style, gender role expectations, religious and political views, family values and more. If only there was a way to learn these things ahead of time….

There is!

When I work with you and your partner, we look at roughly two dozen areas of your relationship.

Here are a few:

• Longevity

• Stability

• Similarity

• Stress

• Unrealistic Expectations

• Baggage

• Social Support

• In-law Relationships

• Cultural Context

• Spiritual Beliefs

• Conflict Management

• Psychological Caution Flags

• Personality

• Sex

• Attitudes and Happiness

• Communication

Focusing On Really Knowing Your Partner

Studies have shown that premarital counseling reduces divorce by up to 31%. Our sessions will focus on the topics above and the differences that you and your partner have in these areas.

Understanding how your partner approaches the world and relationships is the first step in knowing how to negotiate life with them. Many couples experience years of frustration because they never took the time to really understand their partner.

Plan For Your Marriage

You’ve planed for your wedding now plan for your marriage. Give me a call and let’s start your new relationship by going in the right direction. You’ll be glad that you did.

Are you considering divorce or separation?

Are you struggling to come to terms with a recent divorce?

Has your divorce or separation left you feeling angry or despondent?

Just as marriage is one of life’s most significant experiences, so is divorce. While recovering from divorce can be difficult, it’s not impossible. Divorce recovery therapy can help you cope with the emotional and mental toll that often comes with the end of a marriage.

If you find yourself feeling any of the following:

• Unresolved hostility or resentment towards your former spouse

• Upset about your partner’s infidelity, addiction or other destructive behaviors

• Feeling that your former partner didn’t give your marriage a chance

• Loneliness, or worry that you won’t find love again

• Guilt about things you did or didn’t do in your marriage

• Grief or depression about the dissolution of your marriage

• Stress or anxiety about financial burdens

… then divorce recovery therapy can help.

Working one-on-one with a therapist, you can learn to accept and address feelings of anger, sadness, anxiety, guilt or depression. Your therapist can help you find positive outlets to deal with your emotions. If you leave these feelings unresolved, they can come out later in life and affect you in unexpected and negative ways. Therapy can help you process these emotions in a healthy way so that you can move past this moment of pain and sorrow and work to move forward in your life.

Divorce recovery therapy can give you the power to reclaim your life by helping you grieve the loss of your marriage and partner, so you can be healed and restored. Together, we will figure out what contributed to the breakdown of your marriage and discuss what you can do to improve your relationships going forward.

It’s painful to go through a divorce, but you can find a path to healing. While divorce is the end of one chapter, it’s also the start of a brand new one. You have a whole lot of life and living yet to do.

If you’re going through a divorce, you don’t have to go through it alone. Together we can help you heal and create the life you want to live. Give our office a call today and let’s set up an appointment to talk.

Let’s Look At Your Relationships

When in session with me I will explore your issues within the framework of your relationships. When I do sessions with you, I will conduct therapy as if the members of your family were in session with us. I do this by asking questions about your problems within the context of your relationships.

Here are some of the questions that I might ask;

• What do you think your (coworker, wife, mother, etc.) would say about what you just said?

• What problems are happening as a result of your hidden feelings from your (coworker, wife, mother, etc.).

• How would you act if your (coworker, wife, mother, etc.) found out?

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As you can see, I am interested in helping you solve your problems through the context of your relationships. I have seen many clients with depression or anxiety and we have found the root of their problems stem from a relationship that is need of attention.

Take The Next Step

Let me help you through this difficult time in your life through this hyper focused, highly effective strategy.

While traditionally men have not been the ones to seek out therapy, that doesn’t mean they haven’t had reason to. For example, according to a recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) survey, the number of men who seek treatment for mental health issues is significantly lower than the number of women with the same mental health concerns.

Why is this?

From a young age, men are taught rigid masculinity – that is to be strong and to keep their emotions in check. This often leads to many men feeling isolated, anxious and depressed. The very emotions they should seek help for, they stuff down and “go it alone.” Bearing their emotional pain seems a better idea than opening themselves up to the stigma of seeking therapy.

What are some of those most common mental health issues plaguing men?

• Substance abuse – Men are far more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs.

• Economic factors – Unemployment rates have skyrocketed, and many men sadly tie their worth or value into being the breadwinner.

• Bullying – Many young men are the victims of bullying.

• Relationship issues – Believe it or not, studies have shown that men rely more on their partners for emotional support than women do. This can make relationship problems particularly hard to deal with.

• Challenges related to fatherhood – While it can be a great source of joy, fatherhood can also cause stress and anxiety, particularly for new fathers.

There is no denying that mental health issues manifest differently in men than in women, resulting in many going completely ignored and untreated. Often men minimize or don’t recognize their own emotional pain. This results in them bottling up their emotions, which often leads to a manifestation of a physical disease or illness, such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health issues and would like to explore treatment options, please be in touch with me. There is no stigma in seeking help, only relief from the burdens you are currently carrying alone.

Conflict resolution therapy can teach you how to cope in challenging situations by helping you focus on finding solutions as you navigate a conflict. In any type of relationship, be it personal or professional, conflict is bound to happen. It’s not reasonable or realistic to expect two people to always agree on everything. Even though conflict is a normal, healthy part of any relationship, trying to deal with it when it comes up can feel anything but healthy or normal. Since disagreements are an expected part of life, learning to handle them in a positive and meaningful way is crucial.

After an argument with a friend, romantic partner or co-worker, you may avoid them in an attempt to “keep the peace”. You may hope that over time, the issue will resolve itself. By avoiding conflict or pretending nothing happened, you’ll create additional tension as this unspoken problem remains between you and the other person.

The next time you have a disagreement, one or both of you will be angry or resentful from the previous disagreement that was never resolved. Conflict resolution therapy will help you see conflict as an opportunity to develop your character and improve your relationships. You’ll learn to successfully manage stress, control emotions, and focus on resolving the issue at hand.

So if you:

• Have a co-worker you struggle to get along with

• Can’t seem to come to an agreement with your spouse on important issues

• Have an argumentative friend or family member

• Want to learn how to “fight fair” with your spouse or partner

• Need help managing your emotions during an argument

• Want to find healthier, more effective ways of communicating your needs

… then conflict resolution therapy can help.

We can show you how to find the source of conflict so you can work quickly towards a resolution. We’ll teach you how to focus on a solution instead of shutting down, blaming or resenting the other person.

Conflict resolution therapy will help you learn that while you can’t control the other person, you can control how you respond.

If you’re having difficulties in the workplace or at home and need support, conflict resolution therapy can teach you conflict resolution skills so you can handle any situation. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.