Relationships can be deeply meaningful, but even strong relationships can go through periods when things feel harder than they used to. You may be having the same argument over and over, struggling to communicate without things escalating, or simply feeling less connected to each other.
Sometimes there's a specific issue that brings you to couples therapy. Other times, the relationship has gradually changed and you're not quite sure how you got here or how to get back to feeling close. Couples therapy gives you a place to slow things down, better understand what's happening between you, and find different ways of communicating and responding to each other.
Reasons Couples Come to Therapy
You don't have to wait until your relationship is in crisis to come to therapy. Sometimes couples come in because they're struggling. Sometimes they want help with one particular issue, and sometimes they simply want their relationship to feel better.
I work with couples around:
Communication and recurring conflict
Feeling disconnected or emotionally distant
Trust and relationship repair
Intimacy and emotional connection
Premarital concerns
Marriage and relationship transitions
Parenting and the transition to becoming parents
Differences in expectations, needs, or priorities
Difficult conversations and major decisions
Questions about the future of the relationship
Sometimes the goal is to repair or strengthen the relationship. Other times, couples need a place to have conversations that have become difficult to have on their own. We can start with what's happening now and figure out together what would be most helpful.
What Couples Therapy With Me Is Like
Coming to couples therapy can feel a little uncomfortable, especially if you're worried that one person will be blamed or that therapy will turn into another place to argue.
That's not how I approach the work. I'm not there to decide who's right or wrong or to take one person's side. I want both of you to feel heard and understood while we look at the patterns that have developed between you and what happens when the two of you get stuck.
We may work on communicating more clearly, understanding what's underneath recurring conflicts, rebuilding trust, or finding different ways to handle difficult conversations. Often, slowing things down helps each person hear what the other is actually trying to say rather than falling into the same familiar reaction.
I often draw from relational therapy in my work with couples, looking at both the relationship itself and what each person brings to it. The goal isn't for you to agree about everything. It's to help you understand each other better and find ways of relating that feel better for both of you.
In-Person and Virtual Couples Therapy
Couples therapy is available in person at my Denver office or virtually throughout Colorado.
If you're considering couples therapy and wondering whether I might be a good fit, I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation. We can talk briefly about what's bringing you in, what you're hoping for, and any questions you have before deciding whether you'd like to schedule.