Couples
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Sometimes individual issues are more readily and directly addressed within the context of the client's romantic or sexual relationship, especially if there are clear conflicts within that relationship. The core goal of couples counseling is not to "fix" your partner, but to better understand the ways in which YOU contribute to and facilitate (although likely without consciously realizing it) problematic dynamics within the relationship. Rather than simply playing the "blame game," effective couples work involves owning up to personal responsibility for relationship issues. |
Most relationships are imbalanced in certain areas, leading to recurring power struggles and arguments. Areas such as sexual frequency, financial matters and child-rearing are common conflict areas. It can be useful to explore these conflicts and imbalances with the aid of a relatively unbiased observer. Certain power struggles and cooperative dynamics may have become so habitual or automatic in an intimate relationship that the individuals within the relationship may have learned to simply "settle," accepting areas of chronic dissatisfaction within the relationship as "the way things are." The therapist draws the couple's attention to various patterns underlying stubborn conflicts without taking sides or laying blame. Since clients in couples counseling are encouraged to understand their individual issues as they relate to couple dynamics, supplemental individual therapy is sometimes suggested as a means to maximize and accelerate couples work.
Dallas Whole Life Counseling openly welcomes both married and unmarried, heterosexual and same-sex couples.
