Great Couples Counseling in St Augustine, FL. Therapy to heal relationships.

Relationship issues can take a toll on us individually. In couples therapy I focus on the partners and their dynamics and the couple as individuals. I believe in order to have a harmonious long lasting relationship we each must work on being healthy and whole ourselves in order to be able to offer this into our lives as a unit. Together I can help you find tools and skills to help you and your partner lead a happy and healthy life.

The frustration of feeling misunderstood by a partner can lead to intense emotions and disconnection. In our sessions, will work together to increase awareness of your needs and dig deep to understand where those needs come from. Through that deeper understanding of yourself and your partner, intimacy and connection feels more natural and safe. As your therapist, I will help you communicate in ways you each can hear and strive to provide a safe, non-judgemental space where couples can share honestly and openly.

Couples work is unique and interesting. What a lot of people don't understand it that of course you have different viewpoints - you are in different bodies, have different life experiences and are actually looking at different views! Many times the problem is simply communication: no matter how many times you tell your partner what you need, they just don't hear it. That is where I come in- helping people to get heard and also to hear clearly! In this way there can be a softening and a coming together, with both partners feeling loved and understood. You don't have to continue fighting, and counseling doesn't mean you failed. It is a gift you give your relationship to help nurture it.

We are passionate about and skilled with helping couples to repair and strengthen their relationship by utilizing techniques from evidence-based practices such as Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy and the Gottman Method. These techniques help get to the heart of the matter to increase relationship satisfaction and heal emotional injuries that may have occurred throughout the relationship or as a result of previous trauma. Individual therapy for each partner is also recommended as best practice for helping each person to work through their personal traumas.

Let me guess. One partner feels alone and like they don't matter and the other feels they are always being criticized and can't get anything right. The more one asks for the other to show up, the more the partner disappears physically and emotionally. You both bicker and fight and the idea of sitting and just hanging out seems elusive, if not impossible. Something like this? Often we crave connection but are blocked by the pain and the history that gets in the way. Small fights about little things become battles that highlight our struggle to have our basic relational needs met. I can help you get under the bickering to the parts crying out for connection- to an enriching relationship.

What are the most common couples' issues? If you are thinking "communication, conflict, sex, money, child rearing" you are correct. However, most therapists will go after the symptom on each side of the couple fence thinking that the way to effective change is by getting each party to "work" on their respective "issue". Many times the parties don’t agree but comply. Imagine if you could align the unconscious brains of a couple and stop the "working on your issues" part that has become so popular in therapy settings? Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com to learn how! Or call 877-606-6161. DR. FLEMING'S NEW RELATIONSHIP/COUPLES INTENSIVES. www.kevinflemingphd.com/marriage-couples-retreats.php

Couples present into therapy together for a variety of reasons; loss of intimate connection, moving through some sort of family transition, desire to communicate more effectively, pre-marital and pre-engaged couples, marriage enrichment, marriage in crisis, recovering from infidelity, adapting to the empty nest, conflict resolution, exploring forgiveness & reconciliation, investigating intimacy issues (Emotional, Spiritual & Physical), pursuing oneness, recovering adventure, overcoming anger & reactivity, demystifying power struggles, growing spiritually, and becoming a healing influence in one another's life.