Couples Counseling

“Life is the sum of all of your choices.” – Albert Camus

Relationships at times can be exhilarating, frustrating, disappointing, loving, stagnant to name a few. They are roller coasters with their own bad days and good days, balancing needs against partners. Finding this balance is the key to greater joy and satisfaction.

Research has shown that mental well-being is closely linked to good physical health, mind-body. A happy and satisfied partner or spouse may also be good for your health.

Dating, forming new relationships, break-up and understanding “why?”, divorce, the LGBTQ community, re-negotiating a long-term connection, are areas where my clients are asking for advice and counseling. And with infidelity or extra-marital affairs, no matter how bleak, we know that the marriage can be re-vitalized. You don’t have to wait until a relationship shows signs of trouble before working to strengthen your union. Good communication, effective listening and dealing with conflict have been shown to reduce the risk of separation.

I will help you to resolve your disagreements more productively to deepen your connection and understanding of each other. If you feel understood you will resolve conflict with less acrimony and greater generosity.

Together we’ll explore normal life cycle issues within the relationship which often helps to target and identify the underlying conflicts. Moving, unemployment, job transition, pregnancy, financial difficulties, in- laws, illness, and retirement are some of the more common ailments surfacing and requiring support.

I use Imago Relationship Therapy combining behavioral techniques to uncover unconscious components in choice of a partner. We examine negative emotions and find the cause of severed communications. Gottman techniques may be utilized to increase affection and respect with mapping your partner’s world of worry, stress and joy. And of course we analyze the ways you both communicate and provide exercises to increase intimacy and mutual support.