Therapy for Couples
“Never” and “Always”
“I can never do anything good enough for you.”
“You’re always too sensitive. I can’t say anything without you taking offense.”
“You never stop spending. We can’t pay the bills we have now!”
“You’re always so controlling. I don’t need another parent.”
“You never take my feelings into consideration.”
“You always expect me to read your mind.”
This is not what you signed up for.
Frustration – blame – hurt – mistrust – anger… and so many other complex feelings.
This is not what you want.
This is not where you want your relationship to be.
How Therapy Can Help
Relationship problems erode love and mutual respect. The wedge between you continues to grow.
When you’ve tried everything you could think of to get your relationship back on track but nothing has helped, it’s time to try something else.
Married or not, it makes no difference. Whether you’ve been together four months or four decades, there are ways to help you break down the barriers and reconnect as a couple.
What is my role in Couple’s Therapy?
Each of you bring your concerns into session.
I won’t take sides. What I will do is listen to you.
I’ll ask clarifying questions to understand the situation from each partner’s unique perspective. We’ll talk about what each of you hope to achieve in therapy.
Our work together should facilitate mutual understanding between you.
The Toolkit: Listening – Communication – Problem-Solving
It starts with learning to listen to each other. Listening leads to true understanding.
Learning to express yourself clearly and assertively facilitates that understanding.
Then, how do you actually resolve your conflicts in a way that is mutually satisfying to both of you?
Practical ways to approach problem-solving can be learned and practiced in therapy sessions.
If you’re ready to start your journey, reach out to me by calling (520) 468-0469.
Relationship Enrichment
What if you want your relationship to be more than just OK?
You love each other. Your relationship is pretty good. Things are fine.
But sometimes you miss the spark you remember feeling when you were younger.
The passion has waned. So much is just routine.
Sometimes it feels like you take each other for granted.
Relationships are beautiful and complex.
They are dynamic and keep changing over time. When each of you grow and change as individuals, your relationship also changes.
If not, you can drift apart.
Like many things in life, relationships require attention, maintenance, and direction to stay healthy. No matter how long you’ve been together, your relationship is worth the effort you put into it.
PREPARE/ENRICH Assessment Tool
The PREPARE/ENRICH (P/E) assessment tool is not just helpful in marriage preparation. Taking the time to reflect on your relationship at any stage is an important part of growing together as a couple.
What is the P/E Assessment?
It is a set of simple questions designed to get you thinking and talking about your relationship. You’ll each receive a customized report. It’s just a snapshot of how each of you described your relationship at the time you took the assessment.
What kinds of things does the P/E assess?
Questions address how you communicate, resolve conflicts, and manage your finances. It also explores your sexual relationship, personal habits, leisure activities, relationships with family and friends, spiritual beliefs, and role transitions. Other relationship dynamics, such as assertiveness, self-confidence, avoidance, partner dominance, and personal stressors, are assessed.
Results help identify your areas of strength and possible growth areas. This will help you decide what to focus on while developing your communication and problem-solving skills together.
My Role
As part of Couple’s Therapy, I may suggest this assessment to supplement our work together.
I can give you feedback about your results and facilitate communication in any of these areas.
If your relationship is not where you want it to be, let’s talk about Couple’s Therapy.