Couples Therapy

Has your relationship become stale or simply unfulfilling?

Couples often come into therapy to explore what has changed for them and the relationship.

When relationships do get stale, couples drift apart. Instead of spending time together, each partner may prefer to spend time on their own.

There’s more arguing about the “small stuff” such as laundry, dishes, or who is transporting the kids to soccer practice.

Irritation with one another becomes more commonplace and can lead to one or both of you feeling more alone in the relationship.

There isn’t always one thing you can put your finger on as to why your relationship feels less satisfying, but you know that it does.

In couples therapy, we will talk about what you each feel is missing in your relationship and how to bring back the rich connection that brought you together in the first place.

Has trust become a problem in your relationship?

A partner’s deceit can damage trust and be a destructive force in the relationship.

Trust can be broken when one partner puts their own needs and desires ahead of what is best for you and the relationship. Trust is also damaged when partners break their promises or violate important expectations.

An example of broken trust is when one partner has a discreet sexual, emotional, or cyber affair. Or maybe they went to a casino and spent $1,000 when you are experiencing financial difficulties. Or you learned that their “work event” really ended at 7 pm when you were told 10 pm.

As a result, the person who has been betrayed begins to feel like they don’t know their partner anymore. They don’t know how careful, or free, to be with them. They feel less safe, less cared for, and loved. They feel more and more separate from their partner.

Meanwhile, the partner who violated the trust may care a little or a lot how their behavior has affected their partner. Their authentic concern is almost mandatory for the couple to have a chance to heal.

I am often asked, “How do we get that trust back?”

It takes work, patience, honesty, and exploration of the trust violation. We will explore the needs both of you have and work on strengthening the bond between you. I have seen positive results for couples committed to change with a common goal of staying together.

Is stress from the outside bringing you and your relationship down?

You and your partner feel tired, stressed, or overwhelmed much of the time.

Maybe you have intense jobs, school-age children, a particularly difficult child, demanding in-laws, health concerns, financial concerns, transportation issues, daycare issues.

Life outside of a relationship can be stressful and overwhelming at times.

You try not to let it affect your mood, but it does. You may become irritable with your partner or vice versa.

Maybe you are feeling down, overwhelmed, or depleted. You know romantic relationships take work and need some time and attention, but you just can’t seem to get there.

Love isn’t always enough to sustain a relationship.

Just because you love someone isn’t always enough to sustain a relationship, nor is it a good reason to stay in an unhealthy relationship.

In some cases, it is possible to love a person but also to recognize that there are many differences between yourselves. Values, morals, lifestyles, interests, and beliefs that do not align can make it nearly impossible for a couple to have a healthy and fulfilling life together.

However, for two compatible people, but their relationship is strained, their mutual love will serve as a solid foundation in couples therapy to explore what may be done to get back to a more harmonious relationship.

But love can be the foundation for finding your way back to harmony.

In couples therapy, I can provide the space for you and your partner to reconnect and focus on the things that are most important to you.

I will provide the tools for you and your partner to communicate with each other honestly and effectively. You will gain insight into your relationship and understand each of your roles in the dysfunctional interactions that are occurring between you.

You will gain a deeper understanding of how each of you deals with stress on your own and together. You may be harboring irritations that need to be expressed, ask for or offer help to each other, and be reaffirmed that you have each other’s back.

You can have the relationship you want.

Call or email me today to schedule your first couples session: (703) 203-4689.

I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to help you understand what to expect and answer any questions you may have.