Couples Therapy
Did you know that we are hardwired for safe, healthy relationships? We are naturally drawn to those who HELP rather than HARM. And attachment research shows that the quality of our lives improves when we have healthier relationships. Some research has shown that improving your romantic relationship can lead to a reduction in depression symptoms.
Our relationships are a BIG deal.
Couples that I meet in my office already know this. They come bogged down, hopeless, exasperated, angry, and overwhelmed. Because no matter how hard they’ve worked, things are not getting better. They’re arguing in circles, blaming, shutting down, lashing out, and looking for a way to stop the pain. They’re disconnected, frustrated, and desperately want to see something change.
This is not how they’ve envisioned the rest of their lives. But here’s what they quickly learn:
It’s not about division of labor.
It’s not about finances.
It’s not about the in laws or the different parenting styles.
In the words of the late and great Sue Johnson, a pioneer in the research and practice of couples therapy, “Love is not a bargain, it’s a bond.” When couples have a strong, healthy bond, they can solve just about any problem.
In our weekly, 16-20 sessions, I help you interrupt the patterns that are destroying your relationships. My interventions come from a therapy called Emotionally Focused Therapy. Couples in EFT therapy experience an improvement rate of 86%-90%. EFT has been empirically tested in 40 clinical trials- this means that EFT has been verified and validated through rigorous testing, not just word of mouth or reviews.
Couples will learn how to:
de-escalate conflict
turn towards each other rather than isolate
strengthen their connection
talk about the uncomfortable stuff
improve communication
express themselves without making their partner the enemy
repair old wounds and betrayals
And most importantly, you will learn how to do this outside of sessions. This means that long after we part ways, you will still reap the benefits of your hard work.
Couples therapy isn’t just for couples on the brink of divorce or breaking up. Couples therapy can be helpful in the following scenarios:
Life transitions (move, new career, etc.)
Addition (or change) to the family (new child, empty nesting, etc.)
Grief
Reclaim the passion
Navigating a new health (or mental health) diagnosis
Midlife crisis
If your relationships need some TLC, I’d love to work with you. I provide couples counseling and relationship counseling in Carrollton, Texas. Cross cultural, multiracial/interracial, and LGBTQIA+ welcome.
For more information about attachment styles and Emotionally Focused Therapy, please see links below:
Platonic by Dr. Marisa G Franco
Attached by Dr. Amir Levine and Rachel Hellar