301 S. Sherman St. Suite 202 Richardson, TX 75081 972-898-1318
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Couples counseling, does it work?
Couples Counseling
THE GOTTMAN METHOD
I get many prospective clients ask me if couples counseling works and what is my success rate. I tell them that with couples counseling, we are a team looking at the issues at hand. I provide the guidance, teaching, and coaching so to speak and the couple implements the plan.
One the best and most well researched approaches to helping couples it the The Gottman Method developed by Dr. John Gottman. It is an approach to couples therapy that includes a thorough assessment of the couple’s relationship and integrates research-based interventions based on the Sound Relationship House Theory. The goals of Gottman Method Couples Therapy are to disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy; and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship."
I am a Level 2 Gottman trained therapist. I utilize the Gottman Connect assessment to get insight in the couple's challenges and difficulties. With this assessment and the input of the couple, we then have a roadmap to approach these issues and provide guidance and hope for the issues.
And if you desire a faith based approach, I combine the Gottman method with a Christian worldview of marriage as a sacrament and covenant. Though we take vows when we get married, our human weakness can emerge over time and this can be when marriage counseling is warranted.
Call me to schedule a free 15 minute consult (972-898-1318) to discuss your marriage challenges and schedule an appointment.
PRE-MARITAL PREPARATION
It is important to prepare in a thorough way for the lifelong commitment we seek to enter into in marriage. Marriages are struggling all over so that is why ten years ago I became a facilitator for the the PREPARE/ENRICH program. PREPARE/ENRICH is a reliable and insightful relationship assessment, scientifically validated for over 35 years.
PREPARE/ENRICH covers the topics of communication, conflict resolution, partner style and habits, financial management, leisure activities, affection and sexuality, family and friends, relationship roles, and spiritual beliefs. Customized scales include topics such as cohabitation issues, cultural/ethnic issues, interfaith/interchurch, dating issues, forgiveness and a variety of scales for parenting based on the age of the child and parenting situations (parenting expectations, step-parenting, intergenerational issues, etc.).
Beyond these core and customized scales, PREPARE/ENRICH assesses a couple’s closeness and flexibility, family-of-origin, personal stress, four areas of relationship dynamics, and five factors of personality.
Finally, facilitators can select customized spiritual belief scales when working with couples from a variety of faith traditions (Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, etc.).
During the feedback process, the facilitator receives a Facilitator’s Report (20-25 pages) and uses it to work with a couple. The couple is given their own Couple’s Report (10 pages) and Couple’s Workbook (25 pages) containing exercises covering the major topics from the assessment.
The facilitator typically meets with a couple over 3-6 sessions and is trained to share the results of the assessment while teaching skills from the Couple’s Workbook.
The goals and core exercises of the program are to explore strength and growth areas, strengthen communication skills, identify and manage major stressors, resolve conflicts using a ten-step model, develop a more balanced relationship using the couple and family maps, and understand personality differences.
Call me for a 15 minute free pre-marital consultation (972-898-1318) to discuss further.
