A family relationship is a relationship involving parents, carers, guardians, grandparents, siblings, etc. Family relationships can also include those between people who have been in each other’s lives for a long time and share an emotional bond.
Couples Counseling
At Life Forward Counseling I want you to know one very important thing about your relationship: no matter what has happened in your relationship, no matter how troubled, angry or sad you feel about it all right now and no matter how hopeless things may seem – healing may still be within the reach for you and your partner.
Hurt and pain, sadness and tears, rage and anger…all of these things may plague you and your partner right now. You are taking the first step by looking for assistance and guidance. I want you to know that you are not alone, and we can work together to find solutions and a new way of moving forward.
I find that I’m much more directive in couples therapy than I am in individual therapy. Utilizing the Gottmann approach, in conjunction with cognitive behavioral underpinnings and attachment theory as appropriate, I’ll help you identify the thinking errors and actions that have lead to the current situation in your relationship. The real problem lies not in the fact that couples experience these problems, but the fact that they don’t seek help when they need it the most. It is your mutual commitment and emotional connection that we will enhance and repair, sometimes using an emotionally focused approach and sometimes giving you “homework”. Please know that I help both partners retain their dignity while facing the problems in the relationship.
Family Counseling
Family counseling addresses the dynamics of families as well as individual problems within a family context. I bring decades of experience working with a diverse array of family systems, including families impacted by mental health, neuro-diversity, intellectual/cognitive differences, and a variety of life stage factors. I can help you communicate and bridge the gaps between generations.
As a collaborator with your family, we will focus on finding solutions for the unique challenges and complexities that may arise in your family life. We will work to improve communication among family members and adjust the dynamics between members of the family that may result in dysfunction. I generally utilize a family systems modality, noticing the family as a complex, interconnected system and seeking to identify and make clear how the behavior of any individual in the familial group affects the other members. I also apply cognitive behavioral principles as appropriate, encouraging family members to name the patterns of behavior causing them distress, while still integrating a strengths-based and attachment oriented approach.
I specialize in helping LGBTQ+ couples and families with an emphasis on cultural competency. Whatever the makeup of the family unit, learning and practicing the skills of respectful communication, mutual understanding, and harmonious conflict resolution have made a difference in the lives of many families.
Years and years of unnecessary pain and suffering can be undone and avoided with help. I can help you move your relationship, your family, and your life forward…