Couples Counseling Services
All marriages and relationships will have conflict in one way or another. These conflicts can begin to weigh heavily on your mental health and over all well-being. These conflicts have root causes that can be easy to overlook. Together we can find the path to a happier more satisfying relationship.
People in relationships look to enter therapy for a number of reasons, ranging from communication issues, conflict resolution problems, daily life expectations (chores), power struggles, infidelity, parenting struggles, issues with sexual dissatisfaction, etc. It is recommended that couples enter into some form of counseling as soon as any relational discontent arises, and is often suggested that occasional therapeutic interventions can aid in keeping a partnership healthy long term.
Conflict with your partner can lead to depression, anxiety, issues with self-esteem and self image. Relationship conflict can also cause severe stress for you and your partner. As frustrated as you are your partner is probably experiencing similar feelings. These feelings can be acknowledged and dealt with to bring you closer together. These feelings can also drive the wedge even deeper if the root of the causes are not uncovered. Codependency can also arise in these situations that will add on to the stress that comes with the adjustment that you are going through. During couples therapy sessions we start to address communication issues, conflict-resolution and work on strategies to nourish your relationship.
A good therapeutic process should address many aspects of the relationship, although the way a couple communicates tends to be the primary focus of most couple’’ counseling sessions. In cases where partners avoid conflict or engage in constant battles, healthy communication suffers, problems build, and repairs become more difficult. Famed relationship psychotherapist John Gottman noted that the lack of adequate repair following an argument is the biggest contributor to marital unhappiness and even divorce. South Cove Counseling offers a place where couples can take the first step to improve their relationship – healthy communication.
Of course, simply telling people to talk more or better is rarely going to smooth over the underlying issues that are bringing stress to the relationship. As with individual psychotherapy, change happens in couple’s counseling through insight and understanding. Each member of the relationship should be prepared to look into their own past, notice their repetitions, focus on their personal history, and bring to light the ways those may be affecting the couple.