Couples Therapy

Couples therapy helps bring people together when their relationship is under pressure. Visit Tioana Maxwell, PsyD, and the team at Bridging the Gap Psychological Services in Greater Houston area, Texas, if you hit a rough patch in your relationship. The team offers both partners the help they need to come through their challenges together. If you’re in the Greater Houston area and looking for effective couples therapy and premarital counseling, call Bridging the Gap Psychological Services or request an appointment online today.

Why might I need couples therapy?

Romantic relationships are immensely rewarding but also complicated. You and your partner can experience profound happiness together that nothing else matches, but you have times when you feel despair and anger. All these emotions are normal in healthy relationships, providing you navigate difficult times together.

People can often work through their problems, but sometimes seeing a professional, unbiased couples therapist is invaluable. The team at Bridging the Gap Psychological Services understands the difficulties couples face and can guide you through them, strengthening your relationship and helping prevent future problems.

Couples therapy can also be immensely beneficial for people before marriage.

What issues can couples therapy help us with?

Whatever’s causing your relationship to decline, Bridging the Gap Psychological Services can help. Common problems between partners include:

• Financial difficulties
• Sexual health problems
• Unfaithfulness
• Jealousy
• Contrasting values
• Different aims in life
• Parenting disagreements
• Loss of trust
• Long work hours

Sometimes one person has mental health problems, such as substance use disorder, gambling addiction, depression, or anxiety. While their partner tries to help and support them, it can be difficult to deal with the moods and behaviors stemming from these disorders.

What can I expect from couples therapy?

For couples therapy to succeed, both partners must be willing to talk about their relationship honestly, openly, and with respect. If you worry about what might happen, like an argument developing during a therapy session, remember that your provider acts as a mediator. They help you improve your communication skills to better understand and listen to each other.

Many counseling techniques can help with couples therapy. Some of the most effective include:

The Gottman method

The Gottman method focuses on key behaviors, including criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling. You discuss these issues and learn how to manage conflict.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

CBT helps couples identify their relationship challenges and varying points of view on these issues. You tackle the root of your problems, developing honest communication and realistic expectations.

Emotionally-focused therapy

Emotionally-focused therapy helps you uncover emotions hidden beneath the surface that might present as feelings like anger or distrust. You can then address the problems causing these emotions and issues like unmet needs.

Solution-focused therapy (SFT)

SFT is ideal for couples wanting to overcome specific issues and make defined changes. Therapy sessions involve developing a plan to help you achieve your goal.

Call Bridging the Gap Psychological Services or schedule a consultation online today to learn how you could benefit from couples therapy.