COVID-19 UPDATE: OFFERING ONLINE THERAPY AND IN-OFFICE SERVICES. WEST LOS ANGELES
COUPLES THERAPY
MARITAL OR COUPLES PROBLEMS?
-Do you feel unhappy in your romantic relationship?
-Have your arguments become too frequent?
-Are things like money or parenting disagreements breaking you apart?
-Has your trust been broken?
-Are you unsatisfied with your sex life?
-DO YOU WONDER WHERE IT ALL WENT WRONG or IF YOU SHOULD STAY IN THE RELATIONSHIP?
Couples typically have what I call “an eternal issue”, which is repetitively unresolved in discussions, just to come up again in the next fight.
Too often, partners hope that their significant other would know what they are feeling or what makes them happy.
In recent times, marriages have been experiencing additional stress due to the current circumstances brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. The world has been shaken outside and inside our homes.
Money, parenting, and communication problems are some of the number one issues in marital relationships.
Whatever it is, you might be wondering if what you are going through in your romantic relationship is normal.
As a Marriage and Family therapist, I can assure you that there are many common problems that couples face, but don’t talk about.
Frequent arguments can end-up pushing partners to complete alienation.
If the signs of romantic dissatisfaction are not addressed on time, relationships typically result in separation or divorce.
Unfortunately, whatever is not resolved in one relationship, will very likely show up on your next relationship.
COUPLES THERAPY CAN ASSIST IN REIGNITING THE LOST SPARK IN RELATIONSHIPS
Psychotherapy sessions can offer multiple tools and strategies to resolve conflict and create a deeper level of connection.
With the right guidance, many couples are able to quickly regain feelings of love and intimacy. One of the things that I enjoy the most in my therapeutic work, is seeing how partners are able to suddenly connect in a way that they have never connected before.
The truth is that, since each person and relationship is unique, the recipe for a couples’ happiness is unique as well.
Discovering which are the right ingredients for a successful relationship can be a fun and wonderful adventure… an experience that defines -a before and after- in the capacity to love and feel loved.
Perhaps, we all have wished at some point that romantic partners would come with an instruction manual to help us understand how to make them happy. Maybe even more times, we have wished that we could give them a manual so they could understand how to make us happy. But… is that possible?
INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR A HAPPY RELATIONSHIP
During my work with couples, I help partners develop -what I call a manual or emotional blue print-to make each other happy.
In this process, each individual is able to discover fundamental things about their own happiness, as well as the right components to make their partners feel loved.
Although clients very often fear that during couples counseling the therapist would side with their partners, they soon realize that my role impartially aims to facilitate their connection.
Sessions are handled with respect and deep empathy. In the therapy room, couples find a space where they can learn new ways to relate with each other. These new ways, soon replace the old conflicting patterns of relationship they use at home.
HOW LONG IS COUPLES COUNSELING?
The length of the treatment depends on different factors. Some couples feel satisfied after resolving the conflict that brought them to therapy at the present time, while others feel enthusiastic about achieving further levels of improvement in their lives and relationships. I encourage my clients to discuss their needs and collaborate in the creation of treatment goals.
Over the years and through the use of different therapeutic tools and trainings, I have developed an approach to couples work that facilitates deep, long lasting change -in a considerably short period of time.
As I always explain to my clients, “My role is to teach you how to live without me”. In a way, it is similar to parenting. If we did a good job, our children will learn the necessary tools to leave the nest and fly.
They could come back once in a while for some love or extra help to adjust to new life circumstances, but they are able to independently thrive.
Many of my clients return through the years to discuss stressors, life transitions, or new circumstances. I certainly enjoy to see how much they have grown and help them manage their new experiences.
We all need sometimes a reminder of what we have learned to be able to apply it to new challenges.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO HEAL AND GROW AS A COUPLE
It is common to try to solve problems by talking with friends or family members. In fact, they are the best emotional support we usually find. But unfortunately, they do not always have the professional training necessary to understand the psychological causes of all our problems, or what effective techniques we could utilize to cope with them.
Research suggests that one of the number one healing factors in a therapy treatment is the relationship with the therapist. I strongly believe that emotional support is what helps us navigate the challenges of life.
Once a treatment begins, my clients are aware that they could call me 24/7 if a crisIs arises. But they are also aware that although the treatment may be finished at some point, they could also suddenly reach me in the future if needing support (read more about crisis situations in the FAQ section).
Having the right connection and therapeutic rapport with a therapist is, in my view, comparable to the process of selecting a romantic partner. You are not going to like every potential candidate. Every person is different and so are your likes. If you feel that we are not a goof fit, I can refer you to another professional. If we are a good match, I will be happy to accompany you in your growing path.