Couples Therapy
Relationships are hard work! Crises and problems arise. People who love each other may find that negotiating some topics may be landmines– household management, parenting, finances, sex, relationships with extended family. Sometimes people can work these things out on their own and sometimes professional help is necessary to resolve a problem. Seeking relationship therapy can improve communication and relationship satisfaction as well as improving the chances of staying together.
Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness can help. We have skilled couples therapists trained in a variety of therapy styles. Our sex therapists will explain the process clearly to you, and make it easy to follow through. Our intake form and first session questions are designed to make this as painless as possible. Usually you will first meet the sex therapist as a couple, then each of you meets individually with the therapist, and then you meet a fourth time as a couple to discuss how treatment can help and give you a nice roadmap for progress.
Couples are most likely to benefit from therapy if they get help sooner rather than later. This is most true if all involved are committed to maintaining the relationship. If a partner is not interested in remaining in the relationship, couples therapy may be less effective than discernment counseling.
Therapy works best when all parties in the relationship go to counseling sessions. If one partner won’t go, it may still be helpful if the other partner learns better communication skills and puts them to use.
Effective couples therapy helps clarify concerns and conflicts as well as teaching couples tools to help work out disagreements and come up with solutions.
Common issues in relationships include:
- Communication problems
- Conflicts about money issues
- Conflicts about raising children
- Infidelity or conflicts about sexual agreements
- Substance abuse
- Step-parenting
- Conflicting expectations
- Sexual problems