Relationship Counseling

Romantic Relationships

Romantic relationship counseling is a type of therapy that can help partners improve their communication, resolve conflict, and build a stronger relationship. It can be helpful for partners who are struggling with any of the following:

• Communication problems

• Conflict resolution

• Disagreements about finances, parenting, or in-laws

• Lack of intimacy

• Trust issues

• Emotional distance

• Sexual problems

• Decision-making

• Life transition

Romantic relationship counseling can be a safe and confidential space for partners to talk about their problems and learn new skills to improve their relationship. A therapist can help partners to:

• Understand each other's perspectives

• Identify and change negative patterns of communication

• Learn how to resolve conflict constructively

• Develop a shared vision for their relationship

• Build trust and intimacy

At Catalyzing Courage, we take a two pronged approach with romantic relationship counseling. First, we start with tangible strategies to work on deescalating conflict, while also introducing opportunities for connection. Second, we track your relationship cycle, process the deeper emotions that are creating distance, and disrupt the negative cycle that keeps you there. This is combination two types of therapies: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the first, and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy for the second.

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy

Emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT) is a short-term, goal-oriented therapy that helps couples improve their emotional connection and communication. EFT is based on the attachment theory, which suggests that our early relationships with our caregivers shape our emotional responses and our ability to form and maintain close relationships.

EFT therapists help couples identify and understand their attachment patterns. They then use a variety of techniques to help couples repair their emotional bonds and learn new ways of communicating with each other. EFT is a highly effective therapy for a variety of couple problems, including:

• Conflict and disconnection

• Divorce and separation

• Stepfamilies

• Child behavior problems

• Eating disorders

• Anxiety and depression

EFT is a strengths-based therapy that focuses on the couple's resources and resilience. It is also a collaborative therapy, which means that the therapist works with the couple to create a plan that is tailored to their specific needs.

EFT is a relatively new therapy, but it has been shown to be effective in a number of studies. A meta-analysis of EFT studies found that it was effective in improving couple functioning and reducing symptoms of distress in both adults and children.

If you are looking for a therapy that can help you improve your couple's emotional connection and communication, EFT may be a good option for you.

Here are some of the key concepts of EFT:

• Attachment: Attachment is the emotional bond that we form with our caregivers in early childhood. This bond shapes our ability to form and maintain close relationships throughout our lives.

• Secure attachment: Secure attachment is characterized by a sense of safety, trust, and comfort in our relationships with others. People with secure attachment are able to express their emotions openly and honestly, and they feel confident that their needs will be met.

• Insecure attachment: Insecure attachment is characterized by a sense of anxiety, fear, or distrust in our relationships with others. People with insecure attachment may have difficulty expressing their emotions, or they may be overly clingy or avoidant in their relationships.

• Reactivation: Reactivation is the process of bringing up old attachment wounds in the present moment. This can happen when we are triggered by something that reminds us of a past experience of insecure attachment.

• Change process: The change process in EFT involves helping couples to identify and understand their attachment patterns, and then to learn new ways of communicating and relating to each other.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that helps people change their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT for relationships is a specific type of CBT that is designed to help partners improve their communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.

CBT for relationships is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected. When we have negative thoughts about our partner, it can lead to negative feelings and behaviors. CBT for relationships helps partners identify and challenge these negative thoughts, and to develop more positive and constructive ways of thinking about each other.

CBT for relationships is a short-term therapy. During this time, partners will learn a variety of skills, including:

• Communication skills: Couples will learn how to communicate more effectively with each other, including how to listen actively, how to express their feelings in a constructive way, and how to resolve conflict.

• Problem-solving skills: Couples will learn how to solve problems together in a constructive way, including how to identify the problem, generate solutions, and evaluate the solutions.

• Behavioral skills: Couples will learn how to change their behaviors in order to improve their relationship, such as how to spend more time together, how to be more supportive of each other, and how to manage conflict more effectively.

CBT for couples has been shown to be an effective treatment for a variety of relationship problems, including:

• Communication problems

• Conflict resolution problems

• Infidelity

• Sexual problems

• Depression

• Anxiety