Couples and Families

Couples Counseling

Every couple experiences ups and downs in their levels of connection and communication over time. Couples counseling can help in a variety of intimate relationships, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. The trained mental health clinician with expertise in working with couples will help those in the relationship discuss their concerns and explore their patterns of interacting in a safe environment.

Some couples seek counseling to strengthen their partnership and gain a better understanding of each other. Other couples are trying to evaluate whether or not they want to stay together or end their relationship. Engaged couples may explore premarital counseling to help them have a deeper understanding of each other and work to resolve their differences before getting married. In other cases, couples seek counseling to improve a troubled relationship. Couples therapy may help with many specific issues, including:

Communication problems
Sexual difficulties
Conflicts about child rearing or blended families
Substance abuse
Anger
Infidelity

During the course of couples counseling, the clinician will help the couple identify how negative patterns of interacting develop and what they need to do to get a more desired outcome. Counseling can help couples slow down their spiral in order to identify what they need and then establish realistic expectations and goals for their relationship.

Family Counseling

All families go through ups and downs as they maneuver through various life transitions. When something changes inside or outside of the family unit, or when a particular family member is impacted by a stressful event, the family system as a whole often needs to make adjustments. This process of reorientation after a positive or negative event can be stressful. The growing pains that occur may impact communication, household roles, family rules and traditions, levels of closeness, and family resources. Family therapy is often sought out when a life change strains the family relationships and affects the well being or functioning of one or several family members. The following are examples of changes that lead a person to reach out for family counseling:

Employment transitions
Moving homes or schools
Marriage, separation, divorce, or remarriage
Birth of a child or adoption
Money problems
New relationships or loss of relationships
Retirement
Child custody changes and differing parenting styles
Graduation

Death of a loved one or pet
New medical or mental health diagnosis
Relapse or shifting course of a chronic condition
Community or personal tragedy
Addiction
Infidelity
Sharing new information about sexual orientation or gender identity
Legal problems
Experiences of abuse or neglect

The number of family members who attend each session may vary depending on the family needs and goals. During family sessions, the mental health clinician will collaborate with family members to identify their strengths and challenges, promote respectful communication and understanding between family members, and explore patterns of interaction as well as family beliefs, roles, and responsibilities as the family learns skills and negotiates solutions to the problems impacting them.

Current AMHA Groups

None at this time