What has more influence on you than the state of your marriage? The research shows that marriage is often pivotal to your mental and physical well-being. I take couples beyond learning communication skills. They learn that their problems are often typical of the stage of marriage or development they are in. I help teach them how to create an intimate vital partnership using fool-proof skills, how to stop conflict from getting out of hand, how to prevent affairs, and how to let each other be an individual as well as a partner. Sexual and intimacy difficulties are common and I am trained in helping couples sort through these issues, release feelings of guilt or shame about themselves or their sex life.
I have had special training in the most common sexual difficulty: differences in levels of sexual desire. I am also an expert in drug and alcohol issues and working with couples where one or both partners have/had a problem. I am a 12-Step supportive therapist which means I support my clients in 12 Step involvement and I am knowledgeable about the program. I have had years of special training to work with people who have both a drug/alcohol problem as well as a psychiatric problem such as depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, etc.
I make no bones about taking the stance of helping couples really think long and hard before deciding to separate or divorce. There is so much at stake and the vast majority of couples divorce without really trying to save the marriage, whether they attend counseling briefly or not. I give my clients the information they need to make a sound decision for themselves. In their hour of need, I respond swiftly to their most pressing concerns and I don’t give up on them. Clients often tell me that they really appreciate my forthright style and the ample feedback I offer, unlike other therapists they have seen in the past.
I am passionate about helping couples. I help my couples get better faster by giving them between-session homework. I recommend dating and having more quality time together. I have done couples therapy for over 25 years so I have studied many of the methods out there. But, what is most useful, says the research, is an approach that meshes well with the particular client and their expectations. So, I talk a lot with my clients about what they expect from therapy and what they are finding most helpful. In this way, I succeed more often and my clients are more relaxed about talking about their needs with me.
If you are wondering about your situation, please feel free to call me to discuss it. I am here to help and would welcome your questions or hearing about your particular situation. I find that educating couples about the benefits of getting through their marital difficulties really helps them get a perspective. You can read full articles on my website.
