Couples
I work with couples in all stages of their partnership. I see the couple as my client and work to heal, strengthen and enhance trust and commitment.
Premarital Counseling
Premarital Counseling is an effective way to begin your life long commitment. Premarital Counseling is designed to help couples fully discuss important and sometimes difficult topics. The process includes discussions around finances, parenting, extended family, intimacy and other potential marital issues. Premarital Counseling also helps couples learn essential communication skills. On average premarital counseling lasts 5 to 6 sessions.
Marriage Counseling
Marriage Counseling is a unique experience. For some marriage counseling is designed to help heal betrayal, re-establish trust and enhance commitment. For others the process improves communication, increases intimacy and establishes shared meaning and goals. Each marriage has individual needs and I see my role as a facilitator who walks with the couple as they establish goals, heal attachment injuries and create a high life satisfaction within the covenant of their marriage. Within this process I primarily use the Gottman method combined with the Emotionally Focused Therapy techniques of Dr. Sue Johnson.
Discernment Counseling
Traditional marriage counseling requires two people willing to put maximum effort into improving and/or saving the marriage. It is not fair to use traditional marriage counseling with a couple when one of the partners is not willing or ready to put in maximum effort. This puts unfair stress and responsibility on the partner leaning into the marriage. Discernment counseling facilitates the process of exploring options.
Only three options really exist.
1. A couple can stay together at the status quo.
2. A couple can decide to divorce.
3. A couple can agree to put 100% commitment into the process of marriage counseling.
The goal of discernment counseling is to determine whether or not the partner leaning out of the marriage can agree to a high level of commitment to the work of marriage counseling. Success rates increase substantially when discernment counseling finds both partners willing to be active in the process.
Discernment counseling lasts no longer than 4-6 sessions.