FAQs:

My Partner and I Are Having Problems. Should We Be in Individual Counseling or Couple Therapy?

If you are concerned primarily about your relationship, and you both agree that you would like to address the issues together then couple therapy would be a good fit.

After starting couple therapy, it may be determined whether one or both partners could benefit from individual therapy to address issues that go beyond the relationship itself and would be aided by a more individualized approach. 

Can You Do Both Couple Therapy and Individual Therapy with Us?

If you reach your couple therapy goals and one of you would like to continue in individual sessions with me, that may be a possibility and will depend on each unique situation.

On the flip side, it is typically not helpful to move from individual work into couple work with the same therapist because of potential trust issues. However, again, this can be discussed and addressed on an individual basis.

I Would Like My Partner/Spouse to Come to Therapy with Me, But They Are Unwilling. What Can I Do?

There are many reasons why people do not want to come in for therapy; they may feel that therapy means they are weak and cannot solve their own problems, they may fear being criticized, or they may not wish to make changes. You and your partner may want to discuss the reason there is hesitation to come in. 

Sometimes a partner will come in for a first appointment if they understand that it is an assessment and does not commit them to continuing treatment. Additionally, setting up a phone consultation for the two of you before making an appointment can dispel fears or concerns.

Although couple issues are best addressed with both people in the session, there are still benefits to coming in alone and exploring changes you can make which could positively impact your relationship.

I’m Worried You Will Only Tell Us That We Need to Break Up.

When a relationship is in trouble, most couples really do want to try to save it. The goal of couple therapy is not to make a judgment on whether or not a couple should break up but to help partners understand one another. Some couples do eventually split, but hopefully gain the experience and support needed to go through the break-up process in a healthier way.