While the term “marriage counseling” is commonly used to refer to various kinds of relationship counseling, you don’t have to be married to see the benefits. Many people use couples counseling in Tallahassee, FL and Orlando, FL to help them determine if their current partner would make a good spouse. Couples counseling can also be used before the wedding to help couples strengthen their relationship and prepare for both the good times and the challenges that lie ahead. Much of marriage counseling at Affordable Counseling Center in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL focuses on teaching vital communication skills and learning how you can put them to work in your relationship. The more open and honest you are about your struggles, the more helpful your counselor can be. Perhaps the most important part of couples counseling in Jacksonville, FL and Gainesville, FL is learning to communicate effectively. There are many different styles of communication, and learning how you and your partner communicate best is an important step to learning how to resolve conflict. Our hope is that the information and techniques you learn in counseling will give you the tools to eventually handle most relationship problems on your own. We are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida! affordablecounselingbrandon.com starpointcounselingtampa.com starpointcounselingbrandon.com

Approximately 44 years of relationship research shows that, statistically, many couples put off going to counseling until six years after they initially needed some help. That means these couples are dealing with feelings of frustration, anger, guilt, hurt, sadness, and loneliness for six years longer than they needed to! This statistic reminds us that it’s never too early to consider couples counseling at Affordable Counseling Center in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL. If you start having problems and feel like you might benefit from couples therapy in Jacksonville, FL and Gainesville, FL, there’s no need to wait six years to get professional help. Our compassionate couples therapists in Tampa, FL and Brandon, FL are happy to work with you at any phase in your relationship, no matter how simple or complex your problems may feel. Typically, the sooner you seek out the advice and guidance of a counselor, the better off your relationship will be. It’s simply easier for each member of the couple to make the changes they desire the earlier into the relationship they are. We are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahassee, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida! affordablecounselingbrandon.com starpointcounselingtampa.com starpointcounselingbrandon.com

The challenge of marriage is much like the challenges of cooking.  Even if you love it, you’ve got to find the right ingredients.  And even when you have them, it tends to get messy.  But at least with cooking you have a secret recipe.  In marriage there is no clear cut list of steps.  That’s why marriage counseling in Jacksonville, FL and Gainesville, FL can be so invaluable.  It gives you an opportunity to explore all the ingredients that make marriage wonderful, while identifying and reinventing the elements that aren’t working. To have a marriage that feels like joy, not drudgery, takes a commitment to learning and hard work.  There is always work, and sometimes hard-work, in marriage.  And then there are the seasons of loving-patient-forgiving-agonizing-soul-stretching work. Our marriage counselors at Star Point Counseling Center in Orlando, FL and Tallahassee, FL will stand with you and guide you through reinventing your relationship, even if there’s a great deal of soul work involved.  There may be challenges and heartache along the way, but when we approach marriage with an eye towards what is possible, there can be great fun, great learning, and great hope. We are currently offering online and over the phone counseling in Tallahasse, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Gainesville, Florida! affordablecounselingbrandon.com starpointcounselingtampa.com starpointcounselingbrandon.com

Affordable Counseling Center is offering phone counseling and online counseling in Brandon Fl. & Tampa Fl. With Covid 19 there is an increase in stress, anxiety, depression, couples are arguing more, families are confined to their homes. Online counseling and phone counseling are ways to talk with  a therapist in a safe way to resolve the issues you are having. Our counselors have found that online counseling and phone counseling is just as effective as in person counseling in the therapist’s office.  It is more convenient and our therapists are complying to HIPPA rules. They are doing their online counseling and phone counseling sessions in a room in their home behind a closed door.  When you do your online counseling or phone counseling you may want to make sure you do not have any distractions such as deliveries, phone calls from work or your clients.  All insurance companies have allowed online counseling and phone counseling sessions to be billed so all you have to pay is your co pay. starpointcounselingtampa.com starpointcounselingbrandon.com affordablecounselingbrandon.com

The curent state of affairs makes mental health professionals just as needed as our counterparts in the helping professions at this time. There is so much uncertainty that comes with dealing with society today. This unprecedented issue society is facing globally gives us all an experience that many of us haven’t faced before. It also gives us something in common. Many people are losing emplyment, or loved ones in the wake of all this. In relation to grief and loss this applies as the process of adapting to a significant loss that can vary dramatically from one person to another. It often depends on a person’s background, beliefs, and relationship to what was lost. What comes next is how to cope. The five stages of grief are listed as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Through these difficult times that comes with the rollercoaster of emotion it wouldn’t be uncommon to go through these stages in intervals, more than once, or in any given order. It may put a strain on your marriage or family as well. This is what makes marriage therapy, couples counseling, individual sessions, and family therapy essential in helping to build the tools to cope and make it through all this. You’re not alone and there is help through this.

What stage of your relationship are you in? Are there contentions you and your partner are looking to work through? Are you undecided on whether the relationship is worth salvaging? Are you breaking up? If you have have had a difficult experience in either of these stages, would you be surprisd to hear therapy is more than just being for couples trying to strengthen their relationship? Well, guess what? It doesn’t matter the rhyme or the reason, or the time of the season, therapy is a good way to strengthen a bond, come to a decision on whether the relationship is worth it, or split up amicably with no regret and with closure. The point is, that marriage and family therapy or couple’s counseling is more than the title implies, peeling back the onion so to speak on how diverse relationships are as well as the issues couples and spouses face trying to make them work. There is no shame or guilt in seeing a marriage therapist and in couple’s counseling you learn to deal with any shame or guilt contention has brought you. Give therapy a try today. You won’t regret it!

Ask yourself how long you want to sit with these pestering negative thoughts and contentions that you’re letting hold you back from living the life you deserve. Fulfilled and full love and happiness. The world isn’t perfect and neither are you but that doesn’t mean you deserve to suffer. Manifest the lifestyle and well-being you seek. Experience rapid results on from discovering your life purpose, removing blocks, improving relationships, reducing anxiety, managing pain, increasing abundance, and habit control. Whether you need an individual counseling session, a marriage counseling session, or a family therapy session to tackle a widely diverse array of problems and issues Star Point Counseling Center has the experience and talent to help you actualize the change you want and provides the tools to help you make it happen. You’re in the driver seat. Give counseling with Star Point in Brandon and Tampa a call today!

At times, we all develop ineffective patterns of behavior, some of which are unconscious & keep us from solving problems & being the best we can be. Things happen in life that seem to throw us off our game, or set us back a bit, so to speak. Emotional flexibility is the key to a happier, healthier more complete life. The goal is to help you resolve whatever difficulties are keeping you from living a more authentic, joyful & fulfilled life with yourself, your spouse or partner, or your family. Couples counseling, or marriage and family therapy can be helpful in resolving a number of issues while helping to bring each individual involved a sense of awareness and midfulness with the tools we as therapists help provide to take with you and practice outside of the therapeutic session. Relationship and family counseling offers you a place to process these kinds of life changes, allowing you to express your concerns while maintaining emotional safety.  Therapy is about creating a safe space that allows for emotional expression from  partners while guiding the communication in a way that helps all hear and process those messages from each other with less defensiveness and increased empathy.

It’s time to move on to the next chapter in your life and finally get the freedom you deserve. Freedom from outside noise. Freedom from others’ ideas and expectations. Freedom to love your life and live it the way you were meant to – connected to your purpose, family, and work. It’s time to go the distance. You don’t get do-overs in life. So long as your heart is beating, you owe it to yourself, your creator/the universe, and to those who’ve made a difference in your life to finally own your life and sit in the driver’s seat again. This is my invitation to you. My way of saying, “We’re in it together!” Get rid of stress, burn-out, and self-doubts by removing all past and current baggage – quickly – to go beyond short-term fixes and create unbelievable, life-altering transformations. Reconnect with your authentic purpose and create meaningful, satisfying relationships (including a transformed relationships with yourself). Finally feel in control again. Create a life that once seemed out of reach. Gain the confidence, clarity, and conviction required to live your best life. Learn how to feel in control again with our talented therapists at Star Point Counseling Center and Affordable Counseling Center of Brandon and Tampa Florida,

The path of loving can sometimes be difficult. Even the most devoted partners have conflicts from time to time. A compassionate therapist with experience in helping couples can be an invaluable resource for your relationship. Persons seek the support of therapy for many reasons, ranging from relief from anxiety and depression, to difficulties in creating and sustaining their relationships with others, to fears of expressing themselves authentically and trusting others. Some seek the assistance of therapy to understand reoccurring anger or conflicts with their loved ones. Others seek the help of therapy to develop new ways of responding to circumstances that have been habitually problematic, to develop more capacity for intimacy and to experience more contentment and joy in their lives. One of the strengths of a good therapist is to have an ability to help create an atmosphere in which even persons wary about the process of therapy can begin to safely explore their psychological and emotional lives and their relationships to themselves and others, whatever their goals. Whether you are seeking therapy to understand and accept yourself more fully, address difficulties in your relationship, marriage or family, recover from the aftermaths of trauma or abuse or live your life with more freedom, ease or well-being, rest assured that Affordable Counseling Center of Tampa and Brandon Florida is poised to help you achieve whatever goals you have for therapy in a relaxed and comfortable environment. Here, we offer a safe space for all to come, free of judgement, for a life changing therapeutic experience.

The decision to seek therapeutic counseling is typically not just an overnight decision. Many people contemplate seeing a therapist for months and some years before contacting one. Therapy is a very personal and oftentimes life changing experience. It’s totally normal to be ambivalent about going to therapy, even if you know it would benefit you. Lets face it, while therapy can positively transform lives and catapult individuals into becoming their best self, it can feel emotionally draining at times. Who wants to open old wounds and hash them out. Essentially, no one does. It takes emotional stamina, hope for a better outcome, and a competent and supportive therapist to navigate and sustain the therapeutic process. For some, therapy brings a level of excitement. It is exciting to know you are doing something for yourself that will bring about great return on investment. The excitement can also be accompanied by feelings of anxiety, especially if it will be your first time in counseling. Not knowing what to expect creates a level of anxiety. Some therapists can spot a first-timer instantly, given the individuals’ demeanor during the initial session, which may be described as anxious or shy. Each therapist is different and sometimes it may take more than one attempt to find your perfect fit with a therapist. However, there are a few things across the board that are similar with the therapeutic experience. Below are common things to expect when going to see a therapist. 1. Expect to Be Nervous. It is common for individuals to be nervous and even ambivalent or skeptical about therapy. This is normal and therapists are aware this is normal behavior. The idea of sharing your deepest and darkest thoughts and emotions with another human is daunting. Throughout life we are taught to be strong and avoid vulnerability, as expressing feelings can be misinterpreted as “weakness”. The therapy process will contradict what we have been taught and our mind and body are aware, therefore resulting in feelings of anxiousness. 2. Expect Tears. Our own voice is one of the most powerful tools we have. Hearing our thoughts and feelings out loud, not just in our mind, and with our own voice can feel surreal and overwhelming. Oftentimes, this is the first time individuals have said these things out loud, ever. In addition to this, the therapist is learning about you during the first session so some things you may not have thought about for years may be discussed or triggered. Every therapy office has boxes of tissue, specifically for these reasons. Crying is totally natural and does not need an apology. 3. Expect Your Therapist to Be Human. Therapists have lives filled with joy, stress, fun, sadness, and everything else the average human experiences. Therapists are not perfect individuals and do not claim to be. They are however, clinically skilled and trained to meet the needs of their clients. Each therapist brings their personality to the therapy room, which is why a particular therapist may or may not be a good fit for an individual. Some therapists insert humor with their clients and others have no problem saying a curse word or two during sessions. Therapists genuinely route for their clients and cheer for their success. Some may say “great job” when applauding a client while others may say “yaaaasssss, I see you!”. Your therapist has seen and heard more than you will know and is a non judgemental ally during the therapeutic process. Above all, your therapist wants you to get the help needed, even if it is agreed that another therapist would be a better fit. They can likely even refer you to a colleague that might better meet your needs. 4. Expect to Talk About Yourself. Therapy is all about you, and your therapist wants to learn about you. The rate at which you disclose about yourself is totally up to you. The first session typically involves the therapist completing a biopsychosocial assessment. This is gathering information about your biological, psychological, and social history, especially as it relates to current presenting issues. Many times topics are discussed that have not been thought of in years or possibly never spoken out loud. Disclose at the rate which you are comfortable. It is not expected that the therapist will learn everything about you in the first session. The therapeutic relationship is like any other, it takes time and nurturing to thrive. 5. Expect Assignments and Homework. Depending on the theoretical or treatment approach of the therapist, homework may be assigned. While one hour a week of therapy is great, reinforcement between sessions keeps the progress momentum moving. Homework might include reflecting and journaling, doing a specific skill, or contacting a specific person. The assignment will be relevant to your goals for treatment. 6. Expect to Have Multiple Sessions Before Progress is Achieved. During the first session, my clients are advised that it typically takes approximately eight sessions before significant and sustainable progress is achieved. While eight sessions may not be standard for every therapist and client, it is safe to say no one is “cured” after a couple of sessions. In addition to therapist-client fit, receiving the right treatment modality, and a few other things, progress is impacted by one’s ability to sustain during the therapeutic process. Meaning, can the client be consistent with sessions and continue through the process even though it may be difficult. As therapists we understand that everyone may not be ready to embark on the therapeutic journey, even after showing for their first one or two sessions. That is okay. If the client is not ready to commit to the therapeutic process, it is our hope that we have planted a seed within the client so that they may begin the journey when ready. 7. Expect to Feel Worse After Some Sessions. During sessions, a lot of emotions are sometimes unpacked and processed. This is emotionally draining for clients and they may even feel worse than when they arrived. This should not be the norm, but it definitely happens. As a therapist, we try to put the top back on the can of worms as best we can before ending the session, as we don’t want our clients leaving sessions feeling exposed and overly vulnerable. Processing difficult emotions doesn’t feel good at the time, however, it is a part of the healing and therapeutic process that yields sustained growth within the client. The decision to begin therapy is not always easy, as the idea of change is uncomfortable to some. Change is not easy. There’s a quote that sums up the change experience; “people don’t change until the pain of not changing is greater than the pain of changing”. When you are ready to commit to therapy, keep these expectations in mind as there are many norms therapists recognize with clients during the therapeutic process. Call our office to book an appointment today! or visit us at: starpointcounselingtampa.com affordablecounselingcenter.com star

It has many names: couples counseling, relationship counseling, marriage counseling, premarital counseling, re-marital counseling, and others. The fact is that couples come to counseling for many reasons. Frequent arguments Loss of emotional or sexual spark Infidelity Feeling taken for granted Not feeling “heard” or respected Pre-marital counseling Maintaining civility in divorce These and other common issues often respond well to couples counseling. In addition to specific issues, most couples benefit from improved communication and conflict-management skills. Learning to shortcut arguments, to listen respectfully, to voice one’s real needs, to express respect and appreciation… Skills like these break many apparent logjams. They save marriages and relationships. It’s common that one person in a relationship wants counseling but believes “My partner would never agree to that.” Surely it is helpful to have both partners come to counseling for any relationship. But it only takes one to change the relationship or the marriage. Time and again a partner has been surprised to discover that far from being helpless, he or she actually had the power to change the whole relationship just by changing his or her own actions and reactions. It’s also common for a reluctant partner to refuse to come at first but later to decide that he or she doesn’t want to be “left out” of the counseling. Couples counseling has the power to… End chronic arguments Recover intimacy Restore trust Rebuild respect and appreciation Get your needs met Couples counseling is not only about solving problems. We work to strengthen the foundations of the relationship, rediscover the positives that brought you together in the first place, and create new habits that build up rather than undermine the relationship. A couple with strong positives is resilient against stress and setbacks. It’s not unusual for “graduates” of successful couples counseling to report that their relationship is not just “back to the good old days” but better than those good old days. Many people regard a healthy love relationship to be life’s most valuable asset. Few things are so important to long-term health and happiness. What else in our lives could be more deserving of the best we can give? Call it couples counseling, relationship counseling, marriage counseling, or anything else — sometimes counseling is the best thing we can give to our relationship or our marriage. All couples are welcome at Star Point Counseling Center in Tampa, Fl. & Brandon, Fl. starpointcounselingtampa.com starpointcounselingbrandon.com affordablecounselingbrandon.com