Couples Therapy
Is There An Emotional Divide Growing In Your Relationship?
Do you feel like endless conflicts and arguments are driving a wedge between you and your partner or spouse? Are you struggling with:
Poor communication, disconnection, infidelity, or a lack of intimacy?
Social isolation, co-parenting issues, or poor family relationship dynamics?
Stress-induced anxiety, panic attacks, headaches, or weight gain?
Perhaps you’re engaged and want to get on the same page about in-laws, plans for a family, or each other’s values and expectations for the relationship before you get married.
Or maybe you’re in a same-sex marriage/relationship and looking to counseling to help you navigate some of the challenges LGBTQ couples commonly face.
Relationship Problems Look Different For Every Couple
For instance, you and your partner may have been together so long that you now feel more like roommates than the lovers you were. Sex may be less frequent and quality time may be hard to come by as the two of you are too overwhelmed with work and responsibilities.
It could be that infidelity or some other form of emotional wounding has compromised your trust and sense of stability. Or maybe you are going through a divorce and need help making the split as amicable as possible both for yourselves and your children.
At this point, you probably feel stuck, uncertain of what to do—but that’s where we can help. At Florida Counseling Practice, our structured, non-biased approach to couples therapy can teach you how to improve communication, strengthen your commitment, and embrace opportunities for mutual growth.
Most—If Not All—Couples Eventually Run Into Conflict
When bringing two people together, partners are always going to have differences in opinions, temperaments, backgrounds, and values. Conflicting expectations for intimacy, decision-making, or roles within a marriage can cause stress and tension. Years of being together can create complacency where neither partner is really doing the work necessary to maintain a healthy connection.
People who were exposed to trauma or poor relationship models during childhood often mirror those generational patterns in adult relationships. Then there’s the fact that most people “listen to respond” instead of listening with the intention to understand and accept, which is a crucial element in compromise and communication.
Couples Often Wait Until They’re In Crisis To Seek Therapy
Oftentimes, that’s because people lack awareness that a problem even exists, and if they do see it, they think time or avoidance will solve the issue.
Although women are typically optimistic about couples counseling, a lot of guys worry that asking for help is a sign of weakness, so they put it off. Other folks have been stuck in the same cycle so long that they surrender to it, not realizing there is a better way to communicate.
However, if you are willing to commit to the process and work together as a team, you and your partner can heal the wounds that drive your disconnection. At the same time, you’ll learn how to communicate better, resolve conflict peacefully, and navigate (and maybe even celebrate) the differences that make you unique.
Therapy Can Help You Grow As Individuals And As A Couple
Most couples come to therapy feeling that communication and a lack of connection are their biggest problems. So at Florida Counseling Practice, we specialize in creating a structured treatment plan designed to help couples substitute problematic parts of each person’s communication style with better ways of doing things.
There is no right or wrong here—no judgment or taking sides. Rather, our therapists are ready to support each of you mutually, helping you heal and grow both as individuals and as a couple.
What Do Couples Counseling Sessions Entail?
We can start by taking a look at your history as a couple while also exploring your past relationships, experiences, and relational dynamics as individuals. We’ll assess your current level of communication and connection, identifying where things need improvement or changing.
Using the Gottman Method, we’ll guide you toward a more effective use of communication and help bridge the divide that’s causing your disconnect. We can tackle immediate challenges, such as parenting problems, intimacy issues, or infidelity. Or we can do a deeper dive and focus on healing past trauma, interpreting love languages, and cultivating healthy attachment styles.
Ultimately, however, our goal is to equip you with the skills needed to effectively communicate and compromise in your marriage or relationship without the assistance of a couples counselor.
How We Tailor Therapy To Each Couple’s Situation
At Florida Counseling Practice, we utilize a number of evidence-based therapy models to help couples repair their marriage or relationship:
The Gottman Method is a research-driven, skills-based therapy model that helps couples improve communication and build a strong foundation for a shared life—one in which each person feels safe, respected, and loved.
Person-Centered Therapy focuses on connecting with the client, being empathetic to their unique situation, and taking into account all the myriad elements that make up who they are.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT for Couples, is a proven way to replace negative cognitions—self-concepts—with more neutral or positive perspectives. In doing so, it enhances communication and interrupts negative patterns in current relationships stemming from past trauma and other emotional wounding.
Finding Your Voice Through Therapy
With the help of our Gottman-trained, CBT couples therapists, both you and your partner can feel supported and understood as we explore your core emotional needs and concerns. We can address childhood trauma, trust issues, or infidelity, paving the way to long-term healing.
You’ll learn how to actively listen to each other, find deeper meaning behind your conversations, and develop intimate rituals of connection. And we’ll help you find ways to accept the things that you can and compromise on those you cannot.
It is our belief that if you do the work, you will see results. You can get to a place where you find not only your own voice but also your collective voice as a couple. Through understanding, empathy, and acceptance, it is possible to heal your relationship and restore the connection you once had.
Perhaps You Still Have Concerns About Couples Therapy...
My husband is a little skeptical of couples therapy, especially online counseling.
Unlike friends and family, who can be unintentionally biased, our couples therapists will offer you support that is compassionate, non-biased, and directly attuned to your needs. We’ll also provide you with proven skills for gently challenging negative ways of thinking and taking steps toward a happier, more balanced life.
That said, couples counseling, whether online or in-person, is only as effective as the work you put into it. But if you’re committed, we can help you see the bigger picture, interrupt unproductive patterns, and create change that could last a lifetime.
I worry that we’ll become reliant on marriage counseling.
Our ultimate goal is to help you develop the skills, awareness, and ability to handle any kind of future relationship issues on your own. Just the same, we understand this common concern, which is why we often taper-off sessions for clients.
Once we take care of the main concerns and you possess the skills you need, we can go from meeting every two weeks to once a month or less. That way, we can still periodically check in and adjust treatment as needed.
Will our couples counselor take sides?
In therapy, we work equally with the thoughts and concerns of both partners. At times, a session might be heavier for one partner simply due to the topic being more emotional for them than for the other.
However, there are no sides, and the therapist does not tell anyone who is "right" or "wrong." We simply listen, identify the causes of ineffective communication, and teach skills to make those same words gentler and more effective.
It Is Still Possible To Heal And Renew Your Connection
Whether you long for fewer arguments and less anxiety in your relationship—or you want greater peace and connection in your marriage, our couples therapists at Florida Counseling Practice are here to help. Please call our virtual assistant at (305) 697 4862 to set up your free, 15-minute consultation and learn how couples therapy can help you build a shared life of love, understanding, and respect.
Florida Counseling Practice offers virtual couples therapy sessions for clients in Miami and the greater area of Florida.
Couples Therapy in Miami, FL
1150 NW 72nd Ave
Miami, FL