Marriage & Couples Counseling

Many couples long for a loving, intimate relationship, but don't know what to do. They don't know how to change their marriages. When faced with difficulties in their relationship many people come to counseling for assistance. While counseling can be a powerful intervention, there are important factors that are necessary to help couples bring about positive change in their relationship. One of these factors is making a commitment to the counseling process and to make a positive effort for lasting change. Often problems in relationships have developed over a period of time, and couples can also bring into the marriage relationship baggage from the past. There are also maladaptive behaviors and beliefs that may need to be addressed as well. This is a process that calls for clients to invest time and energy, with the assistance of a skilled counselor to be successful.

My method to "relationship difficulties" involves looking at couple traits, such as communication skills and conflict resolution skills, as well as looking at individual traits, such as self-esteem, self-concept, and ability to effectively express feelings, assertiveness, and ability to manage anger appropriately. Individual traits are as important as couple traits in understanding the dynamics of relationship and in bringing about more positive interaction. A Personality and Love Language test is also given to couples to further ensure that couples understand the personality and love language trait of each individual.

Another important consideration in addressing concerns for couples may sometimes involve the difficulties encountered when one partner is struggling with symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other psychological issues. If your partner is overwhelmed and finding it difficult to cope with prominent concerns, this may naturally affect your relationship. Counseling can offer treatment for symptoms of depression and anxiety and also help clients to learn effective coping, stress management and problem solving strategies.

When God is at the center of your marriage you are not alone. Especially when one partner is willing to work on things, and the other is not at that place yet. God can fill the needs and give you the comfort and support that you need. God wants your marriage to have a strong foundation.