During this “shelter in place” time, all services are offered thru a telehealth video platform so that you may stay safely in your own space.

Call for more information   803-351-0114

Couples Counseling

Let’s be honest – being in a long-term relationship is HARD!

  • Do you often feel misunderstood in your relationship?

  • Do you desire more connection with your partner?

  • Have you been hurt and feel your relationship is in crisis?

I understand how being in a relationship can cause you to feel personally challenged, deeply hurt, and maybe question if there is something better out there. Often, the couples I work with have been unhappy for years and they feel hopeless or stuck.  I provide a safe environment in which to explore and understand your relationship, repair past hurt, and develop new skills for deeper connection.  Through counseling, you will create a more meaningful relationship where you feel empowered, validated, and loved. Your trust and commitment to each other is restored and the love that brought you together is revitalized.   It really happens!  Don’t delay, call me today 803-351-0114 and let’s see if I can help you!

How can I help improve your relationship?

First, I help my clients by listening to their story with empathy and compassion. Secondly, I use a lifetime of experience, education, and training to gain an understanding of your unique situation. And then, I utilize the latest research available to create the necessary changes.

Here are some tools I use with couples:

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

 The Gottman Method

https://youtu.be/LLXX8wzvT7c

The Science of Love — Gottman Relationship Checkup

https://checkup.gottman.com 

As a Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 trained Clinical Member of the Gottman Relationship Checkup program, I utilize the wealth of information from pioneers in relationship science, Drs. John and Julie Gottman who have revolutionized our understanding of marriage, relationships, and couples therapy. They draw upon four decades of breakthrough research with more than 3,000 couples. The assessment is composed of 480 questions in 5 categories: Friendship and Intimacy, The Safety Scales, The Conflict Scales, The Shared Meaning System, and Individual Areas of Concern. Question topics include friendship, intimacy, conflict, finances, children, trust, commitment, drug and alcohol screenings, and individual issues that can put a relationship at risk.

Premarital Counseling –Prepare-Enrich

https://www.prepare-enrich.com

This is an ideal research based relationship exploration program designed for premarital, married, and blended family couples with a desire to strengthen and improve their relationship skills. As a trained facilitator, I will utilize the assessment tool to measure a couple’s strengths in these areas: communication, conflict resolution, relationship roles, sexuality, finances, spiritual beliefs, and more.

Using these measurements allows counseling to focus on those areas needing growth, provides concrete information for couples to discuss and understand their results, and specific tools/techniques to improve relationship skills.

What if it’s too late?

  • Are you or your partner considering divorce?
  • Do you need clarity and/or confidence in both spouses decision for the next step?

Nearly everyone enters marriage with the dream of a lifelong union. Unfortunately many couples reach a crisis point where divorce is on the table. Oftentimes, one spouse is “leaning out” and feels divorce might be the best way to move forward while the other spouse is “leaning in” and wants to preserve the marriage and make things better. Discernment counseling helps couples gain a deeper understanding of what has happened in their relationship that has contributed to the problems they are experiencing, figure out whether the problems can be resolved, and provide confidence in the decision to move forward to the next step: Do we try Couple’s Counseling? Or, is our relationship over? This is how we find out:

Discernment Counseling

http://www.cehd.umn.edu/fsos/research/mcb/couples.asp

Discernment counseling:

  • is short term  –  maximum of five sessions
  • helps provide clarity and confidence in taking the next step:
    1. staying married as you have been – no change
    2.  separation or divorce
    3.  a six-month all-out effort in couples therapy to see if you can create a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling marriage.

Individual Counseling

  • Are you struggling to experience joy in your life?

  • Do you have low self-esteem?

  • Do you feel lonely, unsure, or stuck?

Life throws many challenges our way causing us to feel overwhelmed, inadequate, or powerless and it’s OK to ask for help.

I’m here to help you, call today 803-351-0114

Family Counseling

  • Too much conflict in your family?

  • Need help communicating?

  • Wish your family relationships were better?

If your family is in need of outside help, then call today for a free consultation and begin the healing process 803-351-0114.