Few of us were taught as children how to practice good communication skills and how to resolve conflict with a win/win approach. What most of us learned instead was the old "attack and defend" model of conflict, which is actually verbally abusive. I know from my own personal experience that nothing good ever comes out of the "attack and defend" approach. Nothing ever gets resolved, and the pain and resentment gets bigger and deeper.

How couples counseling can help

Conflict resolution is an area where couples counseling that can help to resolve ongoing disagreements. By learning how to successfully negotiate conflicts, both parties tend to feel more satisfied with the relationship. Conflict resolution in couples counseling is a specialized intervention that aims to help both people feel that they are being heard and their needs are being met.

Learning how to communicate is important for all our relationships, especially with our partner. When we state our needs in a way that can be more easily understood, there's a much higher likelihood of our needs being met. Fine tuning our communication skills is how we learn to overcome unproductive patterns of communication and interaction, and move beyond unresolved relationship issues.

Improve intimacy by developing strategies to maintain and strengthen the relationship commitment, revitalize the intimate bond between partners, and improve the overall quality of the relationship and marital satisfaction. This is often the area where sexual differences come into play, and where intimacy and sexuality need to be redefined.

Co-parenting therapy is a specialization within the field of couples therapy, in which parents who are no longer in an intimate relationship but are seek counseling to improve their ability to work together to raise their children. Co-parenting therapy can help things go smoother and reduce difficulties in child rearing.

I know how it feels to go through the pain and dysfunction of an unhappy relationship. Because of this, I have always felt the importance of helping men and women understand and support each other instead of attacking each other and feeling like enemies. I am truly delighted when I help couples get past their conflicts and come back to love, and laughter, and light-heartedness. It gives me great satisfaction to see the difference it makes in their relationship and in their personal lives.

When you work with me in couple's counseling, you'll see that I am kind and gentle in my approach, yet strong and firm in my understanding and guidance with you. You'll learn to communicate and resolve your conflicts in healthy, life-affirming ways, and healthy communication skills that will allow you to communicate with your partner with a depth of understanding and compassion. I'll also teach you healthy conflict resolution so that you can resolve your conflicts in a manner that will be mutually satisfying.

My goal in doing couple's counseling with you and your partner is to help you get back in touch with the original feeling of love you had for your partner when you first met and first fell in love. In the process of couples counseling, I will help each of you deal with your individual issues so that your joint issues become easier to manage.

Couples counseling helps needs to meet each couples' needs, whether it's understanding and resolving conflicts, improving the relationship, communicating better, negotiating differences, problem solving or learning to argue in a healthier way. Sometimes the need is simply finding a way to rejoin after becoming separated within the relationship.

When you work with me, you will definitely feel loved and supported in your journey to health and happiness with your partner.