Relationships

Meeting individually to work on relationships has significant advantages over couples counseling.

I am a licensed professional clinical counselor who works with individual adults, not a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works with couples. However, it is quite common for one or both members of a struggling couple to be in individual therapy, regardless if they are in couples counseling with a different therapist.

Working on your relationship individually without your spouse or partner present has definite advantages and benefits.

In individual counseling, there is no need to conceal or disguise your genuine thoughts and feelings toward your significant other to avoid hurting or angering them. Meeting individually with a therapist eliminates any competition over trying to earn the favor and loyalty of the couples counselor. It also takes away the incentive for the partner who feels most hurt or angry to put on an emotional display for the couples counselor.

When you are my client in individual counseling, you have my undivided loyalty and full commitment to act in your best interests from the beginning. You can be your real self and share your deepest needs, wants, desires, frustrations, disappointments, and hurts when it comes to your relationship.

As we process this material, we can shape a plan of action for how to change and improve the relationship or to leave it amicably, depending on what you, the client, decide is best for you, your spouse/partner, and your children.

Individual reflection can provide insight.

Individual counseling for relationship problems allows you to reflect on and discuss what is and isn’t working in the relationship. It will enable you to consider your needs (both met and not met) and how your significant other’s statements and actions sometimes cause disappointment, frustration, sadness, or hurt.

Working on relationships in individual counseling is a gateway to self-exploration, increased self-awareness, and increased freedom to modify your attitudes and behaviors to make your relationship healthier and happier.

For example, could you forgive your partner for hurtful statements or actions in the past, not to let them off the hook but to spare yourself from persistent suffering and find inner peace? Could you stop overreacting to suggestions or minor criticisms from your partner rooted in your childhood trauma?

Individual counseling can help you address these and many more questions.

Working on problems can help in all relationships.

Working on relational problems with me can improve your communication and relational skill in all your relationships, not just the one with your spouse or partner currently causing the most stress.

If you want to work on relationship issues without your partner being present, let’s talk.