Helping you get great love.
Skilled support can make the journey to health easier, faster and less frustrating
Couples today face many complex challenges: raising children, managing finances together, creating a life where both can develop personal and professional goals, caring for and dealing with extended family, managing a household together. Oh yes, and also have a satisfying sexual connection and maintain that over decades. All of these things can be wonderful and any one of these can cause serious conflict.
Therapy sessions range in length depending on need. Most couples come to the clinic for 90 minutes every other week. Intensives (2-6 hours per day) are ideal for couples in crisis, facing the threat of a breakup. Call the office to setup a consultation to see how we can help you meet you unique goals.
Below are some common issues treated during couple therapy:
- Healing after infidelity
- Communication problems
- Preparing for marriage
- Different sexual needs
- Exploring whether or not to separate
- Planning for divorce
- Managing difficult family dynamics
- Growing apart over time
- Medical issues (special needs child, new diagnosis, dementia, e.g.)
- Getting on the same page with parenting
- Managing differences within a relationship
- Substance abuse of one or both partners
- Rebuilding trust
Framework of Clinical Care
Clinical services are informed by attachment theory, arousal theory and neuroscience. Each are described below along with examples of how these benefit couples looking for improved connection in romantic relationships.
Attachment Theory
Attachment theory describes how relationships with your primary caregiver as a child impact your romantic relationships as an adult.
Think about your own caregiver. Were they available, overly critical, consistent or inconsistent? Who did you go to if you had a problem? Was there someone in your life who you could really count on? If your caregiver was unresponsive, even If you believe this was unintentional, you form an insecure attachment pattern.
Couple therapy can you move toward secure attachment with concrete skills and new habits.
Arousal Theory
Arousal Theory describes individual differences and relational difficulties in managing energy, mental alertness and engagements with one another. For example, in an argument are you quick to anger or do you blow up quickly and then drop and retreat? Can you recover quickly from an argument or do your arguments last for days on end? When managing stress, what behaviors do you do? do you turn to one another or do you turn to alcohol or shopping or surfing the web to manage difficult emotions? These nuanced behaviors have an impact on the quality of relationships.
Neuroscience
Every brain is unique possessing varied skills, strengths and deficits. Neuroscience provides a framework for understanding and managing differences, skills and difficulties. For example, do you or your partner have ADHD, dyslexia, Autism, OCD, depression or other unique qualities or behaviors? Better understanding and appreciating your brain and the brain of your partner can help to understand why you are having difficulties and how to build skills both individually and collectively.
