Couples Therapy
In Golden CO
When one person feels too much & one feels shut down
In-person and online.
No one said relationships are easy, but they are like a work of fine art. When tended to and cared for, their value grows over time.
Have you been in a relationship past the honeymoon phase and unsure how to navigate next steps? Are you someone who feels they are with the right person but having difficulties communicating with your partner? Are you wanting to learn skillful and loving ways to be with your partner so the relationship feels as good as when you first met?
You want to make sure this one lasts and that you have given it your best shot before calling it quits. I have you both covered.
What you will both learn together will translate and carry over to all your relationships. You will be able to fight more skillfully, love more fiercely, and become a communication pro.
It’s not the relationship, it’s what you both are bringing into it
How Can You Avoid Bringing Past Experiences Into Your Most Cherished Relationship?
The lessons you’ve learned, the relationships you’ve observed, and the experiences from previous connections all influence how you interact in your current relationship. It’s natural to carry these influences with you, but addressing them is key to fostering a truly fulfilling partnership.
Often, the challenges you face are less about the relationship itself and more about the individual dynamics and past experiences that each of you bring into it. These struggles often reflect personal histories, unresolved issues, and unmet needs that both partners contribute to the relationship.
Understanding this is essential for creating meaningful change. By looking inward and recognizing how your personal experiences, communication styles, and emotional responses impact your relationship, you open the door to deeper understanding and growth.
Improving your relationship starts with each person taking responsibility for their role in it. When both partners are willing to reflect on and address their individual contributions, you can transform your relationship into a more harmonious and fulfilling partnership. Together, we’ll focus on the areas needing attention and healing, allowing you to offer your partner your fullest, most attentive self.
WHAT WE’LL DO TOGETHER
Couples Therapy can help you:
Identify Personal Patterns
We’ll explore the personal patterns and triggers that each of you bring into the relationship. By understanding these, we can work on how they impact your interactions and overall dynamic.
Address Unresolved Issues
We’ll delve into any unresolved issues from your past that might be affecting your current relationship. This helps in clearing out emotional baggage and creating a healthier space for both of you.
Enhance Self-Awareness and Communication
By increasing self-awareness and improving communication skills, you’ll be better equipped to handle conflicts and support each other more effectively.
Common questions about Couples Therapy
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In our work together, I utilize a combination of powerful therapeutic models to address the unique dynamics of your relationship. These include:
Gestalt Therapy: This approach focuses on present-moment awareness and helps uncover how unresolved issues from the past are impacting your current relationship. Through experiential exercises and a focus on the here-and-now, Gestalt therapy promotes deeper understanding and emotional connection between partners.
Gottman Therapy: Based on extensive research, Gottman Therapy offers practical strategies to enhance communication and resolve conflicts. It emphasizes building a strong foundation of trust and respect, and provides tools for managing disagreements in a constructive way.
Relational Life Therapy: This model explores how each partner’s past experiences and personal patterns influence the relationship. It focuses on developing a more authentic and supportive connection by addressing individual needs and fostering mutual understanding.
Attachment Theory: Understanding your attachment styles helps in recognizing how you and your partner relate to each other and respond to emotional needs. By exploring these styles, we can work on building a secure and responsive bond that enhances intimacy and stability.
Together, these models offer a comprehensive approach to improving your relationship, addressing both individual and relational dynamics to foster a deeper, more fulfilling connection.
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Sessions range from 50-120 minutes depending on the couples needs and budget.
90 minutes is the suggested time to get most out of your experience.
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The duration of couples therapy varies depending on several factors, including the nature and complexity of the issues you're facing, your goals, and your progress. Here's a general overview to help you understand what to expect:
Initial Phase (4-8 Sessions): In the beginning, we’ll focus on understanding your relationship dynamics, identifying key issues, and setting goals. This phase often involves exploring patterns and developing initial strategies for improvement.
Middle Phase (8-16 Sessions): As we delve deeper, we’ll work on implementing strategies and interventions tailored to your needs. This phase is crucial for addressing underlying issues, improving communication, and building stronger connections.
Ongoing or Maintenance Phase: Some couples may benefit from longer-term therapy to continue working on their relationship or to address new challenges as they arise. Others may find that they have achieved their goals and can transition to occasional check-ins or conclude therapy.
The exact number of sessions required can vary. It’s essential to approach therapy with an open mind and flexibility, allowing for adjustments based on your progress. Regularly reviewing your goals and outcomes will help ensure that therapy remains effective and aligned with your needs.
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60 minute couples session: $200
90 minute couples session: $250
120 minute couples session: $300
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Yes, couples therapy can be highly effective when both partners are committed to the process. Its effectiveness depends on several factors, including the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the methods used, and the willingness of both partners to engage in the work. Here’s why couples therapy often leads to positive outcomes:
Improved Communication: Couples therapy helps partners develop healthier communication skills, allowing them to express their needs and feelings more clearly and constructively.
Conflict Resolution: Therapy provides tools and strategies for resolving conflicts in a way that strengthens rather than weakens the relationship. It helps partners understand each other’s perspectives and find mutually satisfying solutions.
Increased Understanding: Through therapy, partners gain insight into their own and each other’s emotional needs, attachment styles, and behavioral patterns. This deeper understanding fosters empathy and strengthens the bond between them.
Addressing Underlying Issues: Couples therapy helps identify and address the root causes of relationship problems, including unresolved conflicts, past traumas, and unmet needs. By tackling these underlying issues, therapy can lead to more meaningful and lasting change.
Strengthening the Relationship: Therapy focuses on enhancing the overall quality of the relationship. It promotes trust, intimacy, and connection, helping couples build a stronger, more resilient partnership.
Personal Growth: Both partners can experience personal growth through therapy, leading to improved individual well-being and, consequently, a healthier relationship.
While couples therapy can be highly effective, it requires active participation, openness, and a willingness to work through challenges. With commitment from both partners and the support of a skilled therapist, many couples find that therapy significantly enhances their relationship and leads to positive, lasting changes.
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No, you don’t need to be engaged or married to benefit from couples therapy. Therapy is valuable for couples at various stages of their relationship, including:
Dating: Couples who are dating can use therapy to strengthen their relationship, improve communication, and address any issues that arise early on. It can be a proactive way to build a solid foundation for the future.
Engaged: If you’re engaged, couples therapy can help you prepare for marriage by addressing potential challenges, enhancing communication, and ensuring that you’re on the same page about important topics.
Married: For married couples, therapy can be a supportive space to work through ongoing issues, improve intimacy, and address any changes or challenges that arise over time.
Long-term Partnerships: Even if you’re not formally engaged or married, long-term partners can benefit from therapy to address issues, enhance their relationship, and work towards shared goals.
Couples therapy is designed to support and strengthen any romantic relationship, regardless of its formal status. The key is a willingness from both partners to engage in the therapeutic process and work together towards improving their relationship.
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Yes, I have extensive experience working with couples to help them prepare for their big day. Therapy provides an opportunity to reinforce the reasons behind their commitment, ensuring they enter the ceremony feeling confident and ready for a long-term partnership.
I often remind couples that it's unrealistic to perfect everything before marriage. Ongoing challenges will naturally arise as the relationship evolves. For the best results, I recommend scheduling maintenance sessions after the ceremony to continue nurturing and strengthening the relationship.