COUPLE'S COUNSELING
“Most important for marital outcomes is the way the marriage enables both people to feel that the relationship supports their life dreams.”
- John Gottman, ‘The Marriage Clinic’
“Most important for marital outcomes is the way the marriage enables both people to feel that the relationship supports their life dreams.”
- John Gottman, ‘The Marriage Clinic’
As is the case with individuals, each partnership has a unique energy, its own personality, and at times, challenging moments. Helping a couple to better understand the relationship they’re in and how to bring out its strengths and deal with its weaknesses is a big part of the work I do. Couples can benefit from therapy in many ways and at different stages of their relationship.
Pre-marital counseling is useful to sort out any unresolved issues before finalizing the commitment. Too many people commit to each other before they’ve fully thought through their compatibility and goals for the relationship. These are best discussed before the big day.
Working on a long-term relationship may warrant a different type of focus. One or both people may feel their needs are not being heard and/or met. The passion of their early years might have waned and they need to find ways to bring back romance and intimacy. Others communicate in ways that discourage discourse. Hidden and unrealistic expectations might now be surfacing and causing friction. These are just some of the issues that can be resolved through counseling.
Occasionally, even after working long and hard on a relationship, one or both partners may decide it’s time to move on. Helping people come to terms with the demise of their relationship is another part of couple's therapy.
Sometimes, however, people want to discuss their relationship without their partner present or, they’re in-between relationships and need some guidance, before moving on. I see many people who are in both these situations, as well as those that are having difficulties with other types of relationships such as friendships, co-workers/bosses, family members, etc.