Premarital & Couples Counseling

We understand that relationships are complex ecosystems influenced by various factors, including family dynamics, past experiences, and individual histories. With a focus on healing trauma and fostering understanding, our therapists are committed to guiding couples through the intricacies of love, communication, and partnership. Whether you're navigating the early stages of dating, preparing for marriage, or seeking to enrich an already strong bond, we're here to support you on your journey towards a healthy relationship that can stand the test of time.

When to get Couples Counseling

Dating Stage

Couples counseling during the dating stage provides a unique opportunity to establish a strong foundation for the relationship. By addressing potential conflicts and communication barriers early on, couples can cultivate healthy patterns of interaction and mutual understanding. Counseling can also help partners explore individual values, goals, and expectations, promoting alignment and compatibility. Additionally, therapy offers a safe space to navigate challenges, build trust, and deepen emotional intimacy, setting the stage for a resilient and fulfilling partnership.

Engagement Period

Preparing for marriage is an exciting but potentially stressful time, as couples navigate the transition from dating to lifelong commitment. Couples counseling during the engagement period allows partners to address important topics such as finances, future plans, and family dynamics in a supportive environment. We help couples explore potential areas of conflict, clarify expectations, and develop effective communication strategies. By fostering open and honest dialogue, counseling equips couples with the tools to navigate challenges and lay the groundwork for a strong and resilient marriage.

Married Life

Even in the strongest marriages, challenges inevitably arise. Couples counseling in marriage provides a dedicated space for partners to address issues, deepen their connection, and strengthen their bond. We help couples navigate common stressors such as parenting, career changes, and relationship transitions with empathy and understanding. Additionally, counseling offers a safe environment to work through conflicts, heal past wounds, and reinforce the emotional connection between partners. By investing in therapy, couples can foster greater resilience, intimacy, and mutual support in their marriage for years to come.

Benefits of Couples Counseling when things are “Good”

Couples counseling can be profoundly beneficial even when a relationship appears to be thriving. Instead of focusing on putting out the “fires” that often bring others couples to therapy, you can proactively engage in discussing the “small things” before they grow into the “big things”. Essentially, couples can strengthen their bond, deepen their understanding of each other, and cultivate resilience for future challenges.

Signs You May Benefit From Couples Therapy

Persistent Conflict or Disagreements

When conflicts and disagreements become recurrent themes in a relationship, couples therapy can provide a structured and supportive environment to identify underlying issues, improve communication, and develop effective conflict resolution skills. Therapy offers couples the opportunity to explore the root causes of their conflicts and work towards finding mutually satisfying resolutions.
Communication Breakdown

Communication is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship, and when communication breaks down, it can lead to misunderstandings, resentment, and disconnection. Couples therapy offers a safe space for partners to learn and practice effective communication techniques, including active listening, expressing emotions constructively, and validating each other's perspectives. By improving communication, couples can rebuild trust, strengthen their connection, and navigate challenges more effectively.
Lack of Emotional Intimacy

Emotional intimacy is crucial for building a strong and fulfilling relationship, yet it can be challenging to maintain, particularly during times of stress or conflict. Couples therapy can help partners reconnect emotionally by exploring their feelings, needs, and vulnerabilities in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Therapists can guide couples in deepening their emotional bond, fostering empathy and understanding, and reigniting the passion and closeness in their relationship.
Infidelity or Betrayal

Infidelity or betrayal can inflict deep emotional wounds and shatter trust within a relationship. Couples therapy provides a space for partners to process their feelings, rebuild trust, and explore the underlying issues that contributed to the breach of trust. Therapists can assist couples in navigating the complex emotions surrounding infidelity, facilitating honest communication, and working towards forgiveness and healing.
Significant Life Changes

Major life changes such as job loss, relocation, or the birth of a child can place strain on a relationship and disrupt established dynamics. Couples therapy offers support and guidance during times of transition, helping partners navigate the challenges and adjustments inherent in life changes. Therapists can assist couples in adapting to new circumstances, maintaining a strong connection, and fostering resilience as they navigate the changes together.
Difficulty Resolving Past Traumas

Unresolved issues from childhood or previous relationships can impact current relationships, leading to patterns of conflict, mistrust, or emotional detachment. Couples therapy provides a structured environment to explore and process these experiences, gain insight into how they affect their relationship, and work towards healing. Therapists can offer support, validation, and therapeutic techniques to help couples address and overcome the lingering effects of past traumas, for greater emotional and relational well-being.

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Healing Your Relationship through Couples Therapy

Through the therapeutic approaches we offer, you will gain valuable tools and insights to improve your relationship. By integrating Attachment Theory, the Gottman Method, and Prepare/Enrich assessments and interventions, our therapists can help you develop deeper emotional connections, improve communication and conflict resolution skills, and build a foundation for a strong and resilient partnership.

Attachment Therapy

Attachment Theory provides a framework for understanding how early experiences with caregivers shape patterns of behavior and relationships throughout life. In couples counseling, our therapists draw on Attachment Theory to help partners recognize and understand their attachment styles and how they impact their interactions with each other. By exploring attachment patterns, we will help you identify underlying dynamics contributing to relationship issues and work with you to develop more secure attachment bonds. Through interventions such as emotional attunement, mirroring, and fostering a sense of safety and trust, Attachment Theory-based therapy will help you cultivate greater intimacy, empathy, and connection.
The Gottman Method

The Gottman Method is an evidence-based approach to couples therapy developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman. This approach focuses on enhancing friendship, managing conflict, and creating shared meaning in relationships. In Gottman Method therapy, you will learn practical skills and tools to strengthen your relationship, including effective communication techniques, conflict management strategies, and ways to nurture fondness and admiration for each other. By teaching you how to build on your strengths as a couple and address areas of concern, the Gottman Method will empower you to create a fulfilling and resilient partnership.
Prepare & Enrich

Prepare/Enrich is a widely-used premarital and marital assessment tool designed to help couples identify their strengths and growth areas. In couples counseling, we utilize Prepare/Enrich assessments to gain insight into your relationship dynamics, communication styles, and areas of compatibility or potential conflict. Based on the assessment results, we will work with you to explore your relationship dynamics, set goals, and develop strategies for enhancing your relationship. Prepare/Enrich interventions focus on areas such as communication, conflict resolution, financial management, and intimacy building.

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Getting the Most out of Couples Counseling

To get the most out of couples counseling, we suggest:

Commitment: Attend sessions regularly and actively participate in the process.

Openness: Be willing to explore vulnerabilities and share honest feelings.

Communication: Practice active listening and communicate openly and respectfully.

Homework Assignments: Complete assigned tasks or exercises outside of sessions.

Patience: Understand that progress takes time, and be patient with yourselves and each other.

FAQs on Couples Counseling

Premarital counseling is a form of therapy designed to help couples prepare for marriage by addressing potential challenges, strengthening communication skills, and fostering a deeper understanding of each other's needs and expectations. It provides a safe space for couples to explore topics such as finances, conflict resolution, and future goals, ultimately laying the foundation for a strong and resilient marriage.
Premarital counseling can be beneficial at any stage of your relationship, but it's particularly valuable as you prepare for marriage. Whether you're engaged or in a committed relationship, premarital counseling can help you navigate important decisions, identify potential areas of conflict, and build a solid foundation for your future together.
During premarital counseling sessions, you can expect to engage in discussions and exercises designed to strengthen your relationship and prepare you for marriage. Topics may include communication skills, conflict resolution strategies, financial planning, family dynamics, and shared values. Your therapist will tailor the sessions to meet your specific needs and goals as a couple.
Couples counseling is a form of therapy aimed at helping partners resolve conflicts, improve communication, and strengthen their relationship. Whether you're experiencing challenges in your relationship or simply want to enhance your connection, couples counseling provides a supportive environment to address issues, deepen intimacy, and rebuild trust.
Couples counseling may be beneficial if you're experiencing persistent conflicts, communication breakdowns, lack of emotional intimacy, infidelity, or other challenges in your relationship. Additionally, couples counseling can be helpful as a proactive measure to strengthen your bond and enhance communication, even if you're not currently experiencing significant issues.
During couples counseling sessions, you can expect to engage in open and honest conversations with your partner, facilitated by a trained therapist. Your therapist will help you identify patterns of behavior, explore underlying issues, and develop effective communication and conflict resolution skills. Sessions are collaborative and focused on helping you achieve your relationship goals.
The number of sessions needed for couples counseling varies depending on the complexity of your issues, your goals for therapy, and your progress in the process. Some couples may benefit from short-term therapy focused on addressing specific concerns, while others may choose to engage in ongoing counseling to maintain and enhance their relationship over time. Your therapist will work with you to determine a treatment plan that meets your needs and preferences.
It's not uncommon for one partner to be hesitant about counseling, but it's important to communicate openly and honestly about your concerns and desires for the relationship. Consider discussing the potential benefits of counseling, reassuring your partner that therapy is a collaborative process aimed at improving your relationship. Encourage your partner to attend an initial session to see if it feels like a good fit for both of you.

How Therapy at PORT Works

Inquire

Use our online contact form and let us know which of our Therapists you would like to work with. We will promptly connect you to your preferred provider for your brief free phone consultation. We want to go the extra mile to make sure you feel comfortable from the start.
Get to the Root

Your therapy will likely start out with having sessions either weekly or biweekly. With your Therapist, you will get a better understanding of your presenting concerns and how they came about. Your therapist will also help you assess your level of coping and teach you additional strategies.
Do the Work

The bulk of your experience will be in doing the work, both in & out of sessions. You will work through implementing techniques to improve your mood and engagement in relationships in session, while completing tasks assigned by your therapist to further your progress.
Have Better Relationships

This is the point where you get to be #RelationshipGoals. You are having fewer therapy sessions and experiencing emotional healing from past relationship trauma. You are in a place where you are feeling more competent to handle whatever comes next.