Treating Marital/Couples Conflict and Problems

Conflict and problems with your significant other is often one of the most stressful and anxiety provoking experiences in life. You may argue frequently, feel more distant from each other, and feel that you no longer have any fun together. You may feel uncared for and often feel hurt or angry. It is likely that you become more anxious, depressed and in despair. Conflicts and relationship issues can upset almost all aspects of your life. When you find that no matter how hard you try things between you and your partner don't seem to get better, couples therapy may help.

• First, one of our therapists meets with you as a couple to learn what the problems between you have been. Your therapist also takes a personal history from each of you to get to know you as individuals as well as a couple.
• Next, your therapist works closely with you as a couple to design and implement the best treatment program tailored to your unique situation. This may involve working on communication skills, methods to resolve conflict, and techniques to help you get closer to each other.
• Your therapist helps you understand how your present words, behaviors and interactions are contributing to your conflict or deteriorating intimacy. S/he will help you learn ways to get "unstuck" and get closer to the healthy relationship you desire. You will be taught new skills and you are likely to be given homework assignments to practice at home that you have learned in your sessions.
• As a result of treatment, you can generally expect to have learned to work together more effectively to resolve current and future relationship problems and you can expect to spend your time together being more productive, relaxed and having more fun.

Getting along as a couple and having the kind of long term relationship that you desire does not happen automatically or easily. Very few of us have been taught how to have a healthy relationship, and few people have the basic understanding or technical knowledge to make a relationship blossom. Fortunately, these are skills that can be learned, and couples therapy can be an effective way to learn them.