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Marital Counseling
What can couples counseling do for you?
A recent issue of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy provided an in depth review on the effectiveness of
marriage and family therapy. More than 250 studies were critically examined and the following results were found:
- Marriage and Family therapy works: Roughly two-of-three clients do significantly better than the control
group (those not in therapy)
- Marriage and family therapy is more effective than standard treatment for emotional illness
- Marriage and Family therapy improves physical as well as mental health
- Marriage and family therapy increases the success rate of mental health treatments
requiring medication.
Falling in love is easy, staying in love is another matter. Instead of examining why you are stuck, learn to
focus on solutions. Confidential Care Professional Counseling offers solutions if:
- Your relationship seems to take a back seat to everything else
- You and your partner keep arguing about the same subjects
- You feel angry, resentful, misunderstood or hurt much of the time
- You and your partner get along well, you just want to feel closer
- You are single and want to find and keep love
- You feel hopeless and are considering divorce.
Solution oriented marital therapy will make your relationship happier and healthier by:
- Teaching you how to communicate so your partner will hear you
- Helping you master skills to make your relationship more loving
- Helping you rediscover the joy in your relationships
- Teaching you effective and appropriate communication skills
- Teaching you to work as a couple on parenting issues, including blending families (step-parenting)
- Helping you learn to stop the power struggles and find win/win solutions
- Teaching you to find compromise regarding financial issues
- Learn to apply your Christian values to your healing
Read Linda's articles entitled:
Does it work? My favorite therapist joke is: How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb? One,
but it has to
want to change. The more motivated both partners are to make changes, the higher the likelihood of success.
What if one of you is more motivated? That's ok too. Systems theory is based on the concept that when one part
of the system changes the other parts will also change in order to adapt. With counseling direction changes
can be conscious and positive instead of unconscious and negative.
Every family is unique with unique issues, but after 25 years of experience
in inpatient, outpatient and private practice settings, no problem is too big or to small to be resolved. Marital
problems evolve for many reasons including: Family of origin or extended family issues; Individual
emotional issues; Sexuality issues; Infidelity; Infertility; Parenting issues; Pregnancy; Ex-spouse and blended family
issues; Grief and Loss; Stress of a move or other life event; Anger issues; or any other situation that impacts the individual, the children or the family. If your partner won't join you come
alone - You can still learn tools to make your marriage better and to feel better about your situation.
What can I expect from the marriage counseling process?
The initial meeting is an evaluation meeting. It is the beginning of identifying what issues or problems
need to be addressed. This is done in a safe way; without criticism or blame. Over the years I have
found increased success when the evaluation consists of three parts. Usually the first meeting is done
with both partners. I sometimes find it useful to then spend a full visit alone with each partner. This
allows me to gather individual information including family of origin info i.e. what did you learn about
marriage growing up. The individual meetings include assessment for any individual emotional issues.
Most importantly, this allows individuals to fully express their perceptions about the marital issues without
fear of offending their partner. Our goal is to decrease conflict, not increase it. However, the decision to
do this is tailor-made for each couple.
The Process
The process includes couples sessions that allow ample time for communication that is made
safe by eliminating judgment criticism and blame. It allows couples to work through
their core issues (same fights over and over). Your therapist coaches you in your
conversations. You are taught tools ( the Imago dialogue) that change the way you
talk to and understand one another. The model is based on the book Getting the Love You Want, by Harville Hendrix
Phd and Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D.
Learn more about Imago Relationship Counseling, which is used by Oprah Winfrey.
About Divorce
Divorce is the second most traumatic loss a person and family can face besides death. It is my personal goal
to help bring resolution and healing to the difficulties in your marriage. As long as you are willing to make
changes you will always be encouraged to salvage your marriage at Confidential Care Professional Counseling.
Unfortunately, couples sometimes make the difficult decision to end their marriage.
The litigation process causes undue emotional and financial damage to an already devastating situation. That is
why I recommend a safer process that truly keeps you in control of the outcome.
Learn more about De'tente Mediation.
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