People who have never attending counseling may have some misconceptions about what counseling is. Television shows and movies often portray the Hollywood version of counseling, which is often not accurate. Learning about what counseling is and how it can help can alleviate the anxiety some people experience when considering either individual or couple’s counseling. Counseling [...]
Counseling can help couples dealing with a variety of parenting issues. The stress of raising children can be detrimental to a marriage if the couple struggles with parenting issues. Couples counseling can assist parents in working together and growing closer as they raise their children. Counseling Before Having a Child Just like some couples receive [...]
You and your partner have decided to split. You have kids at home. What should you be thinking about in terms of their short run, medium run, and long-term needs? I raise this long question because I hear all sorts of stories as I counsel couples. I also see children, both kids and adults, who [...]
Sometimes people consider marriage counseling but don’t follow through with finding a counselor because they are uncertain. They wonder, can marriage counseling help with our problems? Do we really need marriage counseling? It is important to educate yourself about counseling if questions like these are preventing you from attending. Marriage counseling can address a variety [...]
When a couple experiences infertility, a variety of emotions and problems can result. Sadly, many couples fail to maintain intimacy during this time. They may feel isolated as they try to deal with this painful and personal matter. Seeking support is very important when dealing with infertility. Infertility causes a lot of stress. Sadly, many couples aren’t comfortable [...]
Please show your support for our blog by following us on our new facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/marriagecounselingblog We realize we are a little behind in adding our content to facebook, but we hope the new facebook page will be helpful for those who prefer that platform for keeping up with blogs. Thanks for the support!
Many people don’t ever seek counseling. Even people who are referred to therapy by a doctor often refuse to seek services. Unfortunately, many individuals and couples don’t get the help they need due to their attitudes about therapy. It’s important to look at your underlying concerns about therapy if you are hesitant to seek help. [...]
If you want couples counseling but your spouse refuses, what should you do? You have a few options in how you respond. Your response to your partner’s refusal can have a big impact on the relationship.It is important to carefully consider your options. If you have been discussing couples counseling, clearly you must want some [...]
Resentment doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it grows slowly over time. Resentment becomes a serious barrier to a happy, loving marriage. It is important to deal with difficult feelings as they arise so that resentment does not build. When people experience unpleasant feelings, there are a variety of ways to deal with them. One method is [...]
There are some tips and strategies that can help you maximize the benefits you will receive from marriage counseling. If you and your spouse have agreed to go to counseling together, it is important to have realistic expectations of counseling and a clear idea on how to benefit from treatment. Think about what you are willing [...]
A new client raised the issue of betrayal. “I’ve been married for all these years and she has men friends and they go off like it’s on a date. She says it’s all in my head. What should I do?” What should we all do? Here are some suggestions. The most important answer is that [...]
You go visit your family or friends. You all start talking about the past or the recent present. Someone tells you new information about what happened regarding you. It may be a fact or an insight into who they think you are. All of a sudden you think you have to reevaluate everything. You feel [...]
Despite the negative consequences of divorce, many couples don’t ever attempt marriage counseling prior to divorcing. Often, the fear about not knowing what to expect makes people shy away from attempting therapy. It can be helpful to know what to expect from therapy prior to scheduling an appointment. It is important to find a therapist [...]
If you and your partner have agreed to seek marriage counseling, congratulate yourselves on your willingness to try and make changes. There are some things that couples can do to prepare for their first marriage counseling session. Prior to the first session, both partners should spend some time working individually and, if possible, spend some [...]
By Maria C. Ramos, MS, MFT Counselor Through my experiences in counseling couples, I have found that both males & females want exactly the same thing from their relationships. Both expect respect, acceptance, understanding, communication, reciprocated love, and time shared with their partner. I found this surprising because the overall perception is that sex would [...]
Sometimes people think that divorce is caused by major sources of conflict. In reality, it is usually smaller sources of conflict that are left unresolved and eventually they become big sources of conflict. Division of labor is one of those issues that can lead to big conflicts. Division of labor includes the day to day [...]
Unemployment has a range of effects on people. Some take it in stride while others become seriously depressed. Unemployment also places a serious pressure on the finances of those affected. Add a spouse, children, credit card debt, and a mortgage to the mix and the end result can be a real strain on the marriage. [...]
When one partner has depression, it can have a big impact on the marriage. People with depression tend to isolate themselves, have less energy, and can be more irritable and all of these can put a strain on the relationship. The other partner is sometimes left feeling confused, lonely, and overwhelmed. When one partner is [...]
While much of our focus on this blog is on saving marriages, sometimes a marriage is just not salvageable. The end result is the divorce courts, and while most divorces can be worked out amicably, there are times when issues lead to quite a traumatic experience. This is particularly true when violence, alcohol, drugs and/or [...]
Selling a private counseling practice can be almost as hard as setting up a private counseling practice from scratch. Often, the value in the practice is in the practitioner themselves, so the minute they walk out the door, so too does the business. This can make selling quite difficult. However, there are a number of [...]
Chances are we all know someone who has struggled with depression at some time in their life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression affects about 6.7 % of the US adult population in a given year. You may know someone who is struggling with depression, and this person could even be [...]
It’s a common scenario seen in marriage counselor offices across the country: differences in spending habits. One partner saves and the other spends. Disagreements over money can cause stress, conflict, tension, and a negative home environment. Furthermore, in the United States, finances are also a major cause of divorce. So how do you protect your [...]
Sitcoms have made fun of these situations for years – yet for families, the effect of an older relative moving in can be a real test of marriage. Older relatives, normally one of your parents, often come to stay because they are having difficulties caring for themselves. The early days can be particularly stressful as [...]
Research shows that the probability of someone having an affair in a relationship is very high (between 40 and 76 percent in one study). With almost half of all relationships involving infidelity, you may be wondering what to do after such an incidence occurs. First, you have to decide if you are going to tell [...]
Visiting a marriage counselor is a serious action to take. If your marriage is in trouble, then marriage counseling is most likely your last option – if counseling fails to find a way through, then your marriage is most likely going to come to an end. If you are not having success with your counselor, [...]
“I give my partner a compliment and they brush it aside.” Does that sound familiar? You may feel they are being negative, however, there are a lot of people in this world who find it hard to receive compliments. I’ll go further: There are a lot of people who find it hard to accept love! [...]
You can go to the doctor to determine your own health. You can take your car to a mechanic to check its health status. But what about your marriage? How do you check its health status? In fact, what defines a healthy marriage? The University of Maryland has put together an extensive list of the [...]
Every marriage goes through rough patches. Often all that is needed is some friendly advice on how to deal with the issue at hand. In many cases, couples steer their way through the problem with no outside help at all. Online counseling has proven to be effective for a number of reasons. First, it is [...]
Do office romances destroy marriages? Often, they don’t. What destroys a marriage is breaking off an office romance. When an office romance comes to an end, there is often tension in the workplace, especially if one person has broken off the relationship against the wishes of the other. This tension often boils over and effects [...]
There are times when a counselor will tell a couple there is nothing wrong with their marriage. The initial reaction is one of disbelief. Just because you feel your marriage is breaking down doesn’t mean it is. The fact you are both talking to a marriage counselor is often testament to that. Before I upset [...]
