Couples & Family Therapy
"No one born is fully formed: it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are."
~ Paulo Freire
Couples Therapy
Couples Therapy is somewhat different than individual therapy. Mainly, the provider focuses on the communication and relationship between the partners.
This is a one-on-two approach. Standard session length is 50 minutes, though the first two sessions will be 75 minutes for baseline assessment and goal planning. The goal of couples therapy is to strengthen the bond, improve communication, and restore or enhance intimacy. Couples Therapy can rehab, and or enhance, your marriage.
Common Reasons:
- Just occupying the same space
- You don’t know how to resolve your differences
- Considering separation or separated
- Only staying together for the sake of the children
- Not talking
- Afraid to talk
- Withholding affection as punishment
- Couple sees one another as adversaries
- Keeping secrets
- Financially unfaithful
- When you feel everything would be okay if “he/she” would just change
- Significant shift in sex life
- Repetitively arguing over the same thing
- Poor communication
- Difficulty getting along with each other’s family
- Feelings of contempt toward your partner
- Not attracted to your spouse
- Incompatible parenting philosophies
- Don’t talk about anything except the children
- Disrespect or lack of respect for your partner’s opinion
- You know nothing of what your partner thinks or feels all day
- Something feels like it’s missing
- Communication has become negative
- Considering an affair or infidelity
Family Therapy
Family Therapy is a one-on-three (or more) approach. The standard session length is 90 minutes. The typical focus is to resolve conflicts, improve cohesion, and change disruptive patterns of interaction. The Family is a unique social system with it’s own structure and patterns of communication. Generally, the better the family functions, the lower the stress level for each member and the better mental health for all.
Common Reasons:
- The parents have conflict within their relationship
- A child has behavioral/school problems
- Children/teens are not getting along
- A family member has a long-term, or acute, mental health problem
- A family member has a substance abuse problem
- To deal with major life event/change
- Loss of a family member or beloved pet
- A child/teen struggling with sexual orientation
- A child sexual abused
- A sexually active teen
- Parental concern over teen's choices