Couples Therapy in New Milford, CT
Are You Having Trouble Communicating With Your Partner?
Have you and your partner been having trouble communicating lately? Maybe your conversations have been escalating into arguments, and you are unable to compromise or agree on much of anything these days. From household duties to finances, to parenting, you don’t seem to be on the same page anymore – in fact, maybe you both seem to be actively moving in different directions. You may have thought to yourself, “If only my partner and I could just communicate better, our life together – our family – would be so much healthier.”
Or maybe you and your partner haven’t gotten married, moved in together, or had children – but the way things have been going, you aren’t sure if any of the above is such a good idea.
Perhaps nothing “big” happened – such as an affair or some other betrayal of trust – to drive you two apart. Instead, your frustrations may be in the little things you can’t seem to agree on: how many kids to have, how much money to spend on the wedding, parenting styles, things that need to be done around the house. You may be feeling so overwhelmed by the thought of your relationship falling apart, and you can’t think about anything else – causing other relationships and responsibilities to suffer.
Do you wish you could stop fighting with your partner, and live in harmony once again?
Communication Issues Are Common For Many Couples
Conflicts are a natural part of the life of sharing your life, home, and offspring with another individual. Disagreements happen. Misunderstandings happen. This doesn’t mean that your relationship is unhealthy or that you’re on the brink of separation – it means you are both humans.
Popular movies and TV shows don’t do much to normalize the idea that many couples sometimes have trouble communicating. Hollywood has perpetuated this idea that healthy couples never disagree, never argue, are always happy, and having copious amounts of sex. In reality, life with two imperfect people, both with flaws and personality quirks, is never perfect. That’s not to say the relationship isn’t good – but disagreements and occasional arguments aren’t necessarily signed that you need to break up or divorce.
Many couples need to learn how to disagree and argue more effectively – meaning they need to learn how to share their opposing thoughts without insults, without bringing up past mistakes, and without passive aggression.
Sometimes, relationship conflicts and marital problems are rooted in generational issues and patterns of behavior. Not everyone grows up in families that openly discuss their problems. For some, issues get “dealt with” by sweeping them under the rug, ignoring them, and hoping they disappear or somehow fix themselves. But this can prolong what started as a small issue, turning it into something bigger. Sometimes, having an unbiased third party to hear you both out can help you figure out where you got off track and help you get back on your feet again.
You don’t have to live feeling lonely, disconnected, and alienated from your partner. Working with a skilled, compassionate therapist can help you learn how to bridge the emotional gap and communicate effectively once again.
Relationship Repair is Possible with Counseling
Having a non-biased third party in a safe, confidential space can help facilitate difficult conversations that might otherwise result in arguing. Counseling is an investment in your future together: the skills you will learn in your sessions together can improve the way you communicate, resulting in a better understanding of who the other person is and what their needs are.
The skills we will teach you are not one-size-fits-all, but tailored for each client, based on their unique wants and unmet needs. Together we will explore how you are “talking past” each other, and discuss how your communication can be improved. Furthermore, we will look at what each person’s triggers are – perhaps it’s sentences that begin with, “You always do this…” or “I hate when you…” By demonstrating different ways to phrase your frustrations, we will show you how it is possible to respectfully disagree, form compromises that benefit both halves of the relationship, and help you with creating and sustaining a safe home environment for self-expression.
After years of working with clients with communication issues, we can assure you that there is hope for your relationship. Counseling works – it’s more than just “relationship repair,” but also a form of self-care. When you are willing to work on and improve yourself, the effects will naturally show up in other areas of your life, such as with your co-workers and in other friendships. Happiness in the home can and does affect your happiness outside the home as well.
You May Have Some Concerns About Couples Therapy.
I’m afraid of being judged.
Our job as counselors is not to judge you, but rather seek to understand where you both are coming from in your relationship. We provide an open-minded atmosphere and safe environment for people to express themselves freely. Our goal is to show you both how to communicate better, not to change who you are as people, criticize your choices, or alter your personalities in any way. Honesty unlocks the key to finding solutions.
If we need a couples counselor, does that mean we’re heading for divorce?
Not at all. On the contrary, counseling is an investment you make to preserve and improve your relationship. Couples therapy is a way to strengthen your relationship. Many of our clients have reported that their relationships and marriages are stronger than ever after several therapy sessions.
I don’t want to share my private business with a stranger.
Creating therapeutic relationships with our clients is the core of the work that we do as couples’ counselors. Sometimes, people find it easier to share their feelings with someone they don’t know. But a third party listener can alleviate the worry of thinking that family and friends will see you differently if you shared the details of your relationship with them.
Call to Schedule Your Appointment for Couples Therapy
To best assess your needs, we offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. You can reach out at (860)740-2228, or contact us through our website.