Couples Counseling
Do you feel stuck?
It can be devastating and disorienting when things don’t feel right between you and your person. As humans, we need connection, and when our primary attachments feel threatened, it can almost feel like a matter of life and death. The emotions that arise when a romantic relationship is off balance are intense. You may find yourself responding in ways that you don’t understand and maybe don’t even like, but you’re stuck in a cycle that you don’t know how to get out of. It may feel like you’ve resolved an issue only to find yourself back in a similar argument a few days later. During times like these, couples need an objective outsider who can figure out the underlying processes that are keeping you stuck.
As a marriage and family therapist trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy, I am a process consultant. I use my knowledge of family systems and attachment to help you stop your relationship from spinning out of control. Through couples therapy sessions, we will stabilize your interactions first so we can then create new ways of experiencing each other. Our work together will dig deep to help you and your partner heal what’s happening under the surface. Future disagreements will no longer lead to eruptions or the silent treatment. I will help you rebuild trust. There’s hope. You can feel safe with each other again.
Session Fee: $135 for 50 minutes
“Distressed partners may use different words but they are always asking the same basic questions, ‘Are you there for me? Do I matter to you? Will you come when I need you, when I call?’ Love is the best survival mechanism there is, and to feel suddenly emotionally cut off from a partner, disconnected, is terrifying.”
Based in Bothell, Washington, Sparrow Counseling is an in-person and online therapy practice dedicated to helping couples find hope.
Through couples counseling, you will be guided toward the following outcomes:
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Gain a better understanding of what causes problems in your relationship. You'll become more aware of your own emotional needs and fears, as well as those of your partner. This awareness will help you find better solutions to conflict.
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Learn to break negative cycles. With a better understanding of your own and your partner's needs and fears, it will be more safe to be open with each other without escalating into a fight.
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Reduce tension in your home. The emotional safety gained from improved communication as partners will create a peaceful atmosphere for your entire family. No more walking on eggshells.
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Gain more clarity about what's really happening between you and your partner. You'll learn how to connect with the one you love in a way that is both honest and kind.
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Let’s walk together toward brighter days. You both deserve it. You invest so much time and energy into other areas of life, now it's time to focus on your most important relationship. When you feel safe with your partner, you can conquer every challenge together.
Is couples counseling right for us?
It can be very scary to admit that your relationship might need help. No one wants to acknowledge that the excitement and attraction you once felt for each other has started to fade, leaving room for growing resentment. It’s completely normal though. I’ve heard it called the “oil and water stage” of a relationship. When you reach this point, if you continue to ignore what’s happening between the two of you, it will only get worse. The best way to rekindle the flame of your love for each other is to bring the hurt and resentment to the surface. You may be thinking that this sounds like a terrible idea. Won’t this just cause more pain? Yes and no. Doing this on your own, without professional help, could potentially lead to more conflict and hurt feelings. However, just as you would visit a surgeon to perform an appendectomy instead of trying to do it yourself, you can visit a therapist, like me, to help you through the delicate work of improving your relationship without any added emotional pain.
With my knowledge and training on relationship dynamics, I help couples resolve some of the following concerns:
Parenting challenges
Misaligned sexual desires
Emotional disconnection
Unwanted pornography use
Fear of abandonment
Differences in values and goals
Faith transitions
Mixed sexual orientation
Betrayal recovery
Difficulty communicating
Trust issues