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Finding The Best Couples Therapy Near You

Finding The Best Couples Therapy Near You

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Life can be challenging independently, and when you’re in a relationship, you may face your partner’s challenges in addition to your own. Every couple has its unique blend of characteristics, behaviors, ideas, values, and challenges. These differences can lead to conflicts.

Couples therapists are licensed professionals trained to support couples with various goals. Whether you’re looking for premarital counseling, experiencing a relationship challenge, planning a family, or seeking to improve intimacy, a couples therapist can offer valuable support. Understanding how to find a professional in your area is beneficial when seeking services for the first time, as various types of couples therapy exist.

What can a couples therapist help with?

Not all couples therapists practice the same type of therapy, and each professional may have their own specialty or concerns they are experienced in treating. Common reasons couples might seek therapy include:

Communication challenges
Sexual dysfunction
Emotional closeness
Differing values or morals
Mismatched libido (sex drive)
Mismatched love languages
Family challenges
Parenting conflicts
Infidelity (cheating or affairs)
Trust issues
Financial struggles
Life transitions
Grief
Traumatic experiences

You may benefit from a specialist depending on the reason you seek therapy. Doing your research before selecting a therapist can ensure you find the proper fit. Note that couples therapy can benefit any couple looking to improve or grow in any aspect of their relationship.

What will the first couples therapy session look like?

Once you’ve found a therapist you and your partner are both interested in, you might be invited to a consultation or an intake session. This session can be short and free or a paid full-length session, either online or in person.

Your therapist may ask you a few questions about your motives for seeking therapy, your goals for treatment, and the most significant challenges in your relationship. Some therapists may meet with each partner individually and then together to understand each partner’s perspective.

Your therapist might also ask general questions about your life and character so they can get to know you. Understanding your career, parenting status, education, and daily responsibilities can help them understand what conflicts could arise or how much time you have to commit to learning skills with your partner.

Questions to ask a couples therapist

In your first session or during a quick consultation with your prospective therapist, consider asking the following questions:

What techniques do you use?

Each therapist may take a unique approach to treatment. Understanding their therapy techniques can help you decide if the therapist’s services would be effective for your concerns.

What is your session cost, and do you accept insurance?

The cost of Couples Therapy varies nationally, but we can provide a more in-depth price breakdown here at Advanced Behavior Health Inc.

How can we make sessions most successful?

Although therapists are there to help you and your partner meet your goals, couples can also work to make therapy function. Being willing, open-minded, and considerate can help couples counseling sessions offer the most benefit. Therapy is not an activity that is done to you but one that you and your partner actively participate in with the guidance of a licensed therapist.

Qualities to consider in a provider

Many qualities can make or break a therapeutic relationship. When seeking a couples therapist, consider the following categories:

Subjectivity and lack of bias

Ethical therapists practice professional subjectivity and reduce bias during sessions. Bias can look like inserting opinions, favoring one partner, or discussing unprofessional ideas. Subjectivity can reduce bias by allowing therapists to consider all sides of a situation, fairly evaluate each partner, and respectfully express opinions based on research and educational background.

Identity
The best couples therapists try to understand a couple’s unique circumstances, identity, and beliefs. When looking for a professional for couples therapy, ask yourself if you’d prefer them to have any of the following identities:

Polyamorous
Black Indigenous Person Of Color (BIPOC)
Spiritual or religious
Immigrant
LGBTQ+
Non-English speaker
Transgender or non-binary
Disabled

Having a therapist with a similar identity to you or your partner may allow them to use their life experience as individuals in the same identity category to support you more effectively.

Modality

Finally, consider the modality your therapist practices. Typical forms of couples therapy include:

Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Dialectical behavior couples therapy (DBT)
Sex therapy
The Gottman method
Family therapy

Takeaway

Couples therapy offers a range of counseling benefits and can be an effective form of treatment for those looking to better their relationship. At Advanced Behavior Health Inc., our mission to serve the community’s complex mental health needs regardless of race, gender, age, religion, sexual identity, and disability ensures you receive compassionate and inclusive care. If you have more questions about couples therapy or are interested in meeting with a couples therapist, consider contacting us online or in your area to get started.

Contact Information:
Advanced Behavior Health Inc.
301-345-1022
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When you think of the well-being of a child, you first think of basic needs: food, water, and shelter. Once these needs are met, however, it’s crucial for a child to have emotional and social wellness as well. In this article, we will explore the impact social wellness has on the overall health of a child and great ways for children to garner social support in their lives.

It comes as no surprise that as human beings, we all need connection with others, no matter what stage of life we are in. In fact, having social support is a social determinant of health (SDOH) that significantly impacts the health of an individual. After spending the last few years in and out of isolation due to the Covid-19 outbreak, social support is more important now than ever before. Having social support means having family members and friends you can talk to and seek advice from when life feels challenging and overwhelming. Knowing you’re not alone in your life journey, especially as a child, creates a sense of belonging and empowerment throughout one’s life.

4 Types of Social Support

Emotional Support. This type of support lets you know that people care about you and have empathy for your experiences. Emotional support often looks like people checking in on you to let you know they’re thinking of you, and that they are there if you need anything. As a parent, make sure your child knows you can be a sounding board for them. If you have family members who can also show up for your children in this way, even better!

Practical Help. This type of support is when people give you something tangible or offer a service to help you out. This could be in the form of money, making food when you are sick, or helping to pack when moving. Having family and friends show up in this way shows your child what it looks like to be present for people you love.

Sharing Points of View. This type of support can often come in the form of affirmations and encouragement. For example, pointing out your child’s strengths to them and reminding them they can do anything they put their mind to. It can also look like sharing another perspective if they are being hard on themselves. For example, if they are angry with themselves after receiving a bad grade on a test, you can help them see it as a learning experience and a way for them to grow.

Sharing Information. This type of support is when someone shares what they’ve learned from their own life experiences. For example, if another parent has a child who struggles with socializing, they can share some tips and tricks they’ve learned to help their child find and create social support.

The Importance of Social Groups and Extended Support

Children who are connected to their family, friends, and people in their community have opportunities to learn how to speak, share, and get along with others. When your child feels connected to people in your neighborhood, it often allows them to feel physically safe which can alleviate stress and worry. Simply riding bikes, going on walks, and saying hello to neighbors with your kids can create this sense of security for them.

In addition to engaging with your neighbors, getting involved in local organizations can also create social support for your child. Signing up for a sports team, musical theater, art class or summer camp are all great ways to help your child meet new friends and learn important social skills that can carry them through their lives.

Tips for Helping Kids Make Community Connections:

Spend time outside in your neighborhood playing on the playground, going to a local farmer’s market, or scheduling a playdate with neighborhood kids.

Show your kids that connection is a two-way street. If your neighbors or friends go out of town, offer to get their mail, or water their plants and take your child with you when you go. This will show your child how you show up for people you care about.

Make sure you make time for socializing with friends as well. Your child looks to you first and foremost for how they should act and live their own life.

Encourage your child to step out of their comfort zone and do something they may be scared to do. As a parent, it’s your job to push them into something social for their own well-being at times.