Do we need couples’ therapy?

Romantic relationships tend to begin on a positive note.

We all remember the warm fuzzy feeling on that first date, that first kiss. Couples tend to experience changes in the relationship over time — for better or for worse.

Some will say that the “spark” has faded. Some will say it feels they just keep misunderstanding one another, growing more disconnected, distant, and conflicted. Other times, a couple may be approaching a major life decision, such as having children or moving to a new place.

Regardless, you and your partner are seeking a loving, lasting relationship, and couples’ therapy can help you get there.

Do you and your partner struggle with intimacy, trust, or communication? Have you experienced frequent conflict or argument? Are you worried about the future of your family and your relationship?

I am here to help you! I offer couples therapy for adults from all over the Northeast Florida area because I believe that every relationship deserves a second chance.

Couples’ therapy (also called couples counseling) is designed to help people deal with some of the most common relationship problems, such as:

• Financial stress
• Major life decisions
• Family pressures
• Health problems
• Sex and intimacy
• History of abuse
• Differences in religious or political beliefs
• Frequent fighting or arguing
• Difficulty with child rearing

Any and all of these issues can affect a relationship, which is why I offer therapy for couples. If you are ready to get started, contact us today — we would love to hear from you. To learn more about how therapy can help, read on!

How will couples therapy help our relationship?

A healthy couple’s relationship is founded on five key elements:

If any of these pieces is missing, the entire relational system tends to have issues. That being said, communication is perhaps the most central element. When couples lack communication skills, nothing else seems to work. Couples therapy is designed to lean on the therapist to act as an outside observer of your relational communication style. Couples therapists are able to provide insight and change unhelpful patterns of communication, thus freeing you to work on the areas that cause other problems in the relationship.

Many relationships struggle with commitment, or the ability to rely on and “stick with” one another. One or both partners may have fears about moving forward with major life decisions, such as marriage. This can create feelings of instability and anxiety in the relationship. The couple needs to be able to openly communicate their concerns, build an understanding, and empathize with one another. Therapy can be helpful in this way, as it provides a space for the two of you to have these conversations.

Another common issue is seen in the couple’s ability to trust one another. When the relationship experiences a breach in trust, the feelings of shared security and safety quickly disappear. Couples therapy can help the two of you work through those sorts of challenging relational experiences.

Intimacy plays a significant role in couples’ issues. Many romantic relationships struggle with physical or sexual intimacy, and the relationship may lack the “spark” that it once had. Or, perhaps there are barriers to being vulnerable and open with one another. Therapy can provide insights into issues with intimacy and help couples discover a deeper connection with one another.

Finally, but most importantly, every healthy relationship must focus on building a sense of safety and security. When abuse or control has entered into the partnership, some members will feel unable to express themselves or have their needs met. My priority is your safety, and so if you are in an unsafe or abusive relationship, contact the domestic violence hotline or follow this link.

If you and your partner have issues with communication, commitment, trust, intimacy, or safety, let me help. I provide couples counseling for relationships just like yours, and would love to work with you! To find out how therapy can help your relationship, contact us today. Read on to learn more about the couples’ therapy process and what treatment looks like!

Do you offer Christian couples counseling?

Yes, I am available for Christian couples counseling for clients who want that. In addition to my clinical training I am biblically and theologically-trained. I would be honored to help you understand what pursuing healing and reconciliation in a God-honoring way looks like. 

What does couples counseling look like at Uplift Counseling Center?

I try to make the couples’ counseling process as efficient and helpful as possible for our clients. Each session is completely confidential and specifically tailored to meet your goals as efficiently and effectively as possible. I am a couples counseling specialists — highly trained in the Gottman Method as well as Emotionally Focused Therapy — and so my treatment focuses on:

• Building “Love Maps”
• Developing fondness and admiration
• Learning to turn towards, instead of away
• Adapting a more positive perspective
• Managing conflict
• Pursuing life dreams
• Creating shared meaning
• Fostering trust
• Establishing shared commitment

I offer four formats of treatment to best fit your needs and schedule:

Most people do well meeting for Regular Sessions, meaning meeting every week or so for hour-long appointments until we reach your goals.

However, some couples prefer to spend more time dialoguing and feel that “an hour just isn’t enough time,” and so I also offer Extended Sessions for that purpose.

Some couples feel that their relationship is going relatively well, and their sense is that they would prefer to do a single “Tune Up” appointment. These are designed to help couples work through minor issues and provide enhancement to the relationship, without an expectation of continued treatment unless desired.

Finally, I offer one, two, and three-day Marathon sessions for couples who want a quick result, are in crisis, or just plain don’t have the time to see me weekly for 3–6 months.

If you and your loved one struggle with connection, if the relationship isn’t “what it used to be,” or if you simply desire a deeper and more meaningful marriage — don’t wait! Uplift Counseling Center was founded because every relationship deserves to be taken to the next level.

Interested? Let’s Connect!