Couples Therapy
“To achieve a lasting loving bond, we have to be able to tune in to our deepest needs and longings and translate them into clear signals that help our lovers respond to us.” – Sue Johnson
Relationships are one of the most fundamental pillars of human happiness. We seek connection, intimacy, harmony and security through our primary bonds with the ones we hold most dear. Thus, we can feel every shade of awful when we are not getting what we need. Couples counseling can help get your relationship back on track. Are you arguing more than you want to? Has a distance between you settled in? Has there been a breach of trust? Is there some difficulty with sex? Are you questioning your commitment? Or are you proactively wanting to keep your relationship strong by learning to communicate well before problems develop?
The Basic Principles of Couple Counseling
Request an Appointment
Relationships are Systems
When a relationship stops working well, both parties get caught up in a pattern that neither one enjoys. It is a paradox: that neither party is to blame for the problem, and yet both must play a role in the solution. Couples therapy is not about pointing out what one of you is doing wrong. It is about helping you get on the same team to change they way you communicate, so you can both feel a satisfying connection again.
Communication is Key
Given how important relationships are to our happiness, it is a wonder that our culture does so little to teach us to communicate well. Without reflection, we can easily fall into communication patterns that create a lot of misery. Often these patterns were learned long ago. Couples therapy can show you effective ways to communicate your needs and respond to your partner, so you can feel successful in the sometimes perlexing art of relationships.
Developing an “us consciousness”
Sometimes people can feel very alone, even when they are in a relationship. Instead of working together to enhance each other’s happiness, patterns of obligation, distancing, complaining, and arguing can take root. A couples therapist can help you get back to an understanding that your happiness and your partner’s happiness are closely linked. And with renewed faith in your mutual vision, you can get back on track with the dreams you had when you first chose one another.
Our Eligible Plans:
CCAH: Central CA Alliance for Health
(Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, Merced & Mariposa Counties)
If you live in one of these counties and have Medi-Cal through CCAH we can help you. Request Services below.
Carelon Medi-Cal Plans
There are many counties in California that offer Medi-Cal plans with Carelon Behavioral Health providers for mental health benefits. As Carelon contracted providers we can help you if you have any of the plans listed below.
San Francisco Health Plan
(San Francisco) The San Francisco Health Plan utilizes Carelon Behavioral Health providers for mental health benefits. As Carelon a contracted provider we can help you.
LA Care Health Plan
(Los Angeles) LA Care offers many types of healthcare plans. If your LA Care plan utilizes Carelon Behavioral Health providers for mental health benefits, we can help you.
Gold Coast Health Plan
(Ventura County) The Gold Coast Health Plan utilizes Carelon Behavioral Health providers for mental health benefits. As Carelon a contracted provider we can help you.
Partnership Health Plan of CA
(See Map below) The Partnership Health Plan of California utilizes Carelon Behavioral Health providers for mental health benefits. As Carelon a contracted provider we can help you.
Anthem Medi-Cal Plans
San Francisco, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Fresno, Alpine, Calveras, El Dorado, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mono, Tulare and Tuolomne counties all have Anthem as a Medi-Cal plan option. If you live in one of these counties and have Anthem as your Medi-Cal plan. We can help you. Request Services below.
Blue Shield Promise Plan
San Diego & Los Angeles Counties both have the Blue Shield Promise Plan as a Medi-Cal plan option. If you live in one of these counties and have Blue Shield as your Medi-Cal plan. We can help you. Request Services below.
Rebuilding Intimacy
Without attention, relationships can stagnate. Sometimes parenting or career obligations cause couples to neglect maintaining their connection. Fortunately, even if sexual attraction wanes with time, intimacy can deepen throughout a lifetime together. Couples therapy can help re-establish the goals you have for your partnership. You can become more skillful in nuturing a strong secure sense of connection. You can fell the love grow strong again.
“No Sides” Couples Therapy
Couples often fear that a therapist will side with one or the other member of a couple. Couples therapists, however, understand that relationships do not have villians and victims, or winners and losers. The goal is not to find out who is to blame for the relationship problems. The goal is to get both partners on the same team by helping them understand each other more deeply.
Recovering from an Affair
Sometimes couples come to therapy because of an affair. Trust and commitment need to be rebuilt. Healing the deeply hurt feelings is often possible. But there must be a an authentic sense of connection to base a continued partnership on. Therapy can help you both make sense of what happened, and learn how to make your relationship stronger going forward.
Request an Appointment
We have openings in all our offices and via telehealth. You don't have to wait around on a wait list. Use our form to get matched with a therapist who will be a good fit for you.