What is Couples Counseling?

Couples counseling or relationship therapy is a treatment approach for partners seeking to improve the quality and health of their relationship. At South Collective Counseling, we support all couples, married or not, to work together in a therapeutic environment to rediscover their individual & collective identities, values, and goals. There are many reasons couples grow apart or reach challenging times in their relationship. All relationships endure challenging times. Couples counseling provides an opportunity for partners to learn how to turn towards each other in hard times, instead of apart. Learning how to grow and change together, while honoring each individual in the relationship, is an extremely rewarding experience for couples.

Couples counseling is typically conducted with both partners present at each session. Our couples counselors will work with partners jointly to promote healthy communication and honesty within the relationship. In some circumstances, the clinician will collaborate with the couple to determine if individual counseling services would be helpful to reach their mutual goals. However, as much as possible, strengthening the bond and connection between each person in the relationship is significant to healthy changes occurring.

What is Divorce Counseling?

Couples also seek marital or relationship counseling when they are trying to determine the future of their partnership, including separation and divorce. Couples may seek divorce counseling to help both partners communicate and process the different stages of divorce or separation. The couple may be in the process of divorce or seeking help in their decision making process. Determining how the relationship needs to change to best support their futures in a safe, healthy manner is always at the discretion of the couple.

Ending a relationship can feel similar to the grief process. Divorce is a loss and both partners will need to process and adjust to a new normal. If a couple determines to dissolve the relationship—South Collective Counseling also provides therapeutic services to support any children involved. Parenting best practices for separated or divorced parents is also recommended and offered at SCC to minimize the disruption to the family unit.

What reasons do people seek out Couples Counseling for?

Common Issues or Concerns in Couples Therapy:

• Intimacy Issues—emotional & sexual

• Communication

• Trust Issues

• Pre-Marital/Marital Counseling

• Divorce Counseling

• Parenting—including coparenting or parallel parenting for separated or divorced partners

• Infidelity

• Family Planning

• Substance Abuse & Addiction Issues

• Life Changes

• Other issues prohibiting healthy dynamics and connection between partners