Couples Therapy

Couples who have a secure attachment know one another deeply. We are able to soothe, comfort, and reassure one another regardless of our individual differences or disagreements we may have. In fact, difficult circumstances can bring us even closer to one another. Challenges can also serve to draw us even closer together.

Couple’s and marriage counseling is available for people in a relationship who may be looking to improve their intimacy, and clarify their understanding of one another.  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’s counseling sessions. 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. Central Valley Family Therapy offers a place where couples can take the first step to improving 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. Couples who seek therapy often have an insecure attachment with one another. This is due to various reasons, some of which relate to difficulties with trust and the inability to express emotion to those who mean the most to us.  The result is that a negative cycle is created between these couples. Each partner gets more and more hurt over time, and the relationship gets more and more distressed.  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.

The goal of couples therapy is to reconnect the two partners. We do this together by taking control of the negative cycle that has separated you. You may begin to realize that your needs for love, support, comfort and protection are hidden by your harsh and angry words. You are guided to explore your needs more openly, and as you do so together you will form a foundation of trust and intimacy in your relationship.

Couples Therapy addresses topics of:

• Isolation within the relationship
• Healing from affairs
• Communication
• Dating
• Premarital counseling
• Separation and divorce
• Parenting issues
• Power and control issues
• Anger and areas of conflict
• Intimacy issues
• Sex Therapy

Couples Therapy can:

• Create renewed love, connection & pleasure in your relationships.
• Build healthy, satisfying & emotionally connected bonds with your partner or loved ones.
• Release yourself from what’s holding you back from happiness.
• Learn to communicate effectively & live authentically.
• Gain problem-solving skills to apply to difficult life situations.
• Become a more confident & capable individual.