Great Couples Counseling in Lake Shore, WA. Therapy to heal relationships.

When you and your partner/spouse entered into your relationship, you both brought with you distinct, rich personal histories. These life experiences contribute to the way we interpret others' messages, how we react in certain situations, and the style of communication that feels most comfortable to us. I will observe your interactive style and patterns, and help you and your partner identify underlying causes, past experiences or interactive styles that have you stuck in a cycle of unresolved conflictual communication.

The goal in Couples Counseling is to reroute the patterns that cause distancing and wall-building between couples. This creates a space that fosters tighter bonding and a team orientation. Couples Counseling teaches individuals how to disarm communication that leads to conflict, increasing the couple's sense of intimacy, and restoring the respect and affection often lost in the process of learning to live together. Couples learn to remove the barriers that lead to stagnancy in relationship. The hard truth is that couples fight. Feelings get hurt. People often feel betrayed. Relationships can be turned around as couples learn to fight effectively, with the intent to resolve, not to "win!"

There are countless models of healthy romantic relationships, from monogamous to polyamorous, and unique variations between partners. The scripts for dating and longterm relationships of our parents’ generations may not be applicable to your relationship, and there is no formal education in how to be a good partner or how to identify unhealthy relationships. But there is psychological research that shows that effective communication, emotional openness, intimacy, and other factors contribute to healthy relationships. Creating these conditions are skills that can be learned. I practice brief humanistic and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) to help my LGBTQ and hetero clients learn these skills.

Your relationship with your partner is one of the biggest determinants of your overall happiness and wellbeing. I provide integrated Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (attachment style focused) and Gottman Method couples therapy. I am trained and have over a decade of clinical experience in providing couple's therapy. You and your partner will be supported in identifying the patterns in your conflicts, getting confident in creating solutions to old unresolved issues or injuries, and making sustained connection a part of your relationship. Living resentment-free and moving past old hurts is possible. I also provide pre-marital sessions for couples preparing to get married.

All couples are welcome at Refresh Therapy. Whether you are dating, living together, engaged, married or anything in between—couples therapy can be a great way to improve your relationship. We believe that each couple has its own unique challenges and history, and we tailor our services to meet your specific needs. Our skilled therapists work with you to identify specific areas of conflict and/or aspects of their relationship that you would like to change. Some common issues that we can help you address include: Peaceful communication Learning about how your past is impacting your current relationship Affair recovery How to achieve the connection and intimacy that you desire

Our most intimate relationships provide the most potential for joy and growth. That is one of the reasons that I love couples therapy. We can become more aware of the gifts each person brings to the relationship. Honoring each individual and choosing growth rather than shame or blame we find greater synergy. We can learn how to communicate and listen accurately. We can learn to coauthor our story as experiencing forgiveness that moves past blame or shame into lasting connections.

My work with couples is centered around creating a deeply intimate relationship that is made to last. I teach couples tools to help their relationship reach the next level. I am Gottman method couples therapy level one trained. This method is based on decades of researching couples to see what makes or breaks couple relationships. I believe in thoroughly assessing the relationship before treating the 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

Relationships are tough! Being part of a couple is an amazing experience but sometimes it brings hurt. Old wounds may become active. I work with couples at every stage of the relationship. Together will explore relational needs and desires, improve communication, and resolve conflict. Will work through infidelities and betrays. Bring the two you closer together and learn new things about your partner. I work with both traditional and non-traditional couples. Call, email, or text me today.

If you're in a committed relationship with a partner, then chances are you've had some conflict at some point. (if you haven't, then I'm surprised you're reading this!) Most of us have had difficult experiences in the past that are difficult to fully leave behind us. Whether your relationship is new or decades old, counseling can help improve your communication and your sense of connection. Even if you aren't sure you'll stay together long term, we can discuss the patterns that show up in your relationships.

Individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their relationship are often reacting to their spouse through the lens of a recent or distant breach of trust or attachment to a significant other. This way of looking at and treating relationship pain is termed Emotionally-Focused Couple's Therapy. Couples who are willing to come to the therapy room and identify the harmful patterns of interaction in their relationship and co-create with their spouses new, trusting, and loving patterns will often benefit from the work they put in in order to support a relationship that is very important to them.