Marriage Counseling Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl. or Couples Therapy in Brandon Fl. & Tampa Fl. is known as a type of psychotherapy that assists couples with identifying and resolving conflicts that may be damaging the relationship. If you are a couple struggling to keep your marriage on track, it is a good idea to consider seeking professional counseling. It is common for both partners to attend the marriage counseling sessions. There are, however, occasions in which one person will seek or choose to attend counseling alone. Through therapy, the individual or couples can gain a better understanding about how to communicate with each other. It also allows the partners to examine what role each plays in the issues surrounding their problems. At Affordable Counseling Center in Brandon Fl. & Tampa Fl. the sessions will provide the couple to create an environment which will help strengthen their bond. Another goal of therapy is to help couples find health ways to strengthen.

Conflict in a relationship is completely natural… At Affordable Counseling Center in Brandon Fl & Tampa Fl we find that our clients relationships can be difficult to maintain. You get tired having the same arguments over and over without resolution. Or the arguments change but you end up with the same pattern; you work it out, but then days or weeks later you’re back in the same rut. Or you don’t argue but are merely co-existing. Work. Eat. Parent. Rinse and repeat. And you haven’t had sex in months. Normal life stressors can cause chaos and bring out deep rooted patterns that negatively impact each other. You may have settled into a comfortable relationship, but often take each other for granted. You forget to make each other a priority. Life transitions like the birth of a baby, the death of an elderly parent, or an empty nest can add to your tension. You don’t always support one another as well as you could, and fears and anxieties get in the way. At Affordable Counseling in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl. our Therapists will teach you skills and tools to overcome these issues. affordablecounselingbrandon.com starpointcounselingtampa.com starpointcounselingbrandon.com

As incredible as life is, it is not without its challenges. While some of those challenges are beyond our control, many are the outcome of the path we chose. We all make bad choices and pursue wrong avenues. We all find ourselves in unfulfilling relationships and lack luster careers. At one point or another, we are all unkind to ourselves. Our thoughts take us to negative places, where depression, anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed take over. Usually people seek out therapy when they are having a hard time managing it alone. Its one of those things that we resist, convinced that we can work it out ourselves. Most of the times we do work it out, but often we accrue baggage along the way, forming habits and patterns that over time can lead us to places of dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Deciding to seek out therapy is not easy. There could be fear, apprehension, uncertainty and maybe even a little hope, that this may be the right place to help you in figuring it all out. Whether its relationship related issues, or more individual issues motivating you, therapy can help. It is a chunk of weekly time solely focused on you. Whether you use that time to let off steam about the pressures of the job and life or use it to examine your choices and behaviors, this time spent on you is an investment. Therapy can be life altering in helping you get what you want. It is a process and takes time, but with motivation and determination to fix what isn’t working, usually comes positive change. starpointcounselingtampa.com starpointcounselingbrandon.com affordablecounselingbrandon.com

Who Benefits from Couples Therapy? Affordable Counseling Center in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl.  see two kinds of relationships in couples therapy. Many come in because of dissatisfaction. But a second group are very healthy, but are hoping to enhance existing strengths or work on a few minor issues to have an incredible relationship. Couples in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl.  face the same issues as those living elsewhere. With that said, the pace and demands of Tampa Bay often seem to exacerbate some relationship issues. The number of people in Tampa Bay add stress, temptation for infidelity, and challenge some to realize the one they are with is right, regardless of endless other possibilities. Here are some common issues and problems we see in couples therapy: Angry and resentful partner Depressed partner Anxious partner Constant arguments and fighting Low sex or no sex Waning chemistry Infidelity Loss of trust Poor communication Emotionally cold or disconnected partner Inability to commit Constant blame Inability to forgive Discrepancies in values, interests, and lifestyles

Does Marriage Counseling Work: Statistics Can Help You Find the Answer Does marriage counseling in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl. work? That’s a really big question, but in reality, what people are asking is, “Can marriage counseling  save my marriage?” The answer to that depends a lot on a number of factors that are outside of the counselor’s office. While some of these points are highlighted below, here are some of the factors to look for when considering marriage counseling in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl.: Have you waited too long? If you’ve been tearing each other apart for ten years, there’s a really good chance that there’s so much damage that unraveling it can’t be done. Do you really want to save your marriage? Sometimes people go to counseling just to say that they tried. They aren’t really wanting it to work. They’re just saving face to assuage their guilt. Is there violence or abuse in the relationship? If there is, you’re not trying to save a marriage, you’re trying to stop criminal activity. Abusers, whether physical or emotional, aren’t “unhappy” in their marriage; they are often scared and impotent people who feel powerless everywhere else in their lives. Does this arrangement meet your needs? If saving your marriage means that you get to spend another 30 years suppressing everything that you want to do, is that worth it? It takes a hard and honest look at what each person wants to make sure that you’re getting from the relationship what you need. A Hidden Factor in Marriage Counseling One of the biggest factors in the success of marriage counseling is the counselor. Almost every counselor in the world says that they do marriage counseling, but most never received any training. Often, they got a degree in psychology or therapy and feel that they can do it. At Affordable Counseling in Tampa & Brandon Fl we have developed tools and skills we teach our clients. We have a higher success rate than the national average due to this. Marriage counseling isn’t just one person and his or her issues. It’s two people, their issues, and interaction and dynamics of those issues. Marriage counseling isn’t just counseling – it’s a learned skill that requires a specialist. 1) Statistics Show High Rates of Patient Satisfaction Over 98 percent of those surveyed reported that they received good or excellent couples therapy, and over 97 percent of those surveyed said they got the help they needed. After working with a marriage or family therapist at Affordable Counseling Center, 93 percent of patients said they had more effective tools for dealing with their problems. Respondents also reported improved physical health and the ability to function better at work after attending therapy. 2) Marriage or Family Counseling Takes Less Time than Individual Counseling If you are wondering “does marriage counseling work?”, the answer may depend on whether or not your partner is even willing to go to therapy with you. If your partner refuses to go to therapy with you, you may be able to change the dynamic of your relationship just by going to individual therapy. However, statistics show that couples or family therapy is usually faster and more effective than individual therapy alone. When a couple or a family goes to therapy together, they have the chance to work on their group dynamic, and this leads them to success faster. Typically, it takes about a third fewer sessions to accomplish a goal in family or couples therapy than it does in individual therapy. This means you will spend less money and get your marriage back on track sooner than if you just tried to help yourself. 3) Working with a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist Is Usually Cheaper than Seeing a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist Unfortunately, when many couples start therapy, they feel stressed about money as well as many other things. Adding the additional stress of a therapy bill can be overwhelming for some couples, and in certain cases, it may be so overwhelming that it could derail the therapy. If you want to avoid that extra stress, you should try to use your insurance to pay for couples therapy. If you turn to Affordable Counseling in Brandon Fl. & Tampa Fl. you will typically spend 20 to 40 percent less than you would if you had opted to work with a psychologist or a psychiatrist. 4) Marriage Counseling May Lead to Divorce When many people ask the question “does marriage counseling work?”, they are really asking whether or not marriage counseling in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl.  can save their marriage. Unfortunately, this is not always the right question to ask. In some cases, marriage counseling works by convincing a couple that they are not in a healthy relationship and by giving the couple the encouragement they need to end their relationship. According to some research, approximately a quarter of couples who receive marriage therapy report that their relationship is worse two years after ending therapy, and up to 38 percent of couples who receive marriage therapy get divorced within four years of completing therapy. These statistics lead some people to consider one of the growing number of alternatives to marriage counseling.

Couples Therapy When couples initially meet and form relationships, they focus on the idealized view of the other person. Over time that intense, romantic feeling fades for most couples and they may begin to drift apart. Research shows that couples often do not seek treatment until problematic patterns have developed over many years. All couples experience some conflict in their relationship. While at different developmental stages different issues may arise, these are some of the common couple issues that cause people to seek therapy: Developing a home together and adjusting to different family values that you bring from your family of origin How does our relationship change when the baby is born? Disagreements over household chores and responsibilities Infidelity Sexual Intimacy Finances Interference of extended family ·         Lack of direct communication about wants and needs Lack of couple time Excessive levels of criticism, contempt, stonewalling and defensiveness Coping with the stressors of daily life: busy schedules, needy children, work expectations Affordable Counseling Center in Brandon Fl. & Tampa Fl. works with couples to rebuild a positive couple relationship, focusing on your strengths.  As that relationship grows we begin to work together to develop non-conflictual ways to communicate to and be understood by the other. Then we begin to tackle the perpetual problems that exist within any home. Couples therapy is always a mixture of acceptance and change—focusing on what you can change about yourself and learning to accept parts of the other person that are unchangeable.

Are you engaged? Considering engagement? Recently married and want to get started off right? A fulfilling marriage can be one of the most rewarding experiences of life. Surprisingly, successful partnerships that endure life’s ups and downs also experience conflict and challenge. It is how couples manage conflict that separates those who endure, from those that last only a few years. Many couples don’t understand the importance of premarital counseling, and have a hard time placing value in counseling when they are already in a happy, healthy relationship. Couples who pursue counseling during their engagement or very early in their marriage can significantly reduce their risk of divorce by developing a higher level of marital satisfaction. Here is what you can expect from premarital/early marriage couples counseling: First, we will highlight the strengths of your relationship and discuss strategies for utilizing those strengths to prevent marital strain and overcome unavoidable hurdles. We will provide a supportive, non-judgmental environment to discuss any areas of your relationship you wish to change or improve. Lastly, we will guide you through the process of discussing important issues that every couple should explore before engaging in marriage, such as having and raising children, financial issues in your marriage and establishing roles within the relationship. Discussing these subjects can sometimes be anxiety provoking; however, we will facilitate respectful, positive communication which will allow both partners to express their authentic desires and concerns in a way that is productive and ultimately results in mutual understanding. affordablecounselingbrandon.com

Some of you who are considering couples counseling or marriage counseling in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl. are wondering if it’s too late for therapy. You have experienced too much pain, betrayal or ‘second chances’ and feel there is no hope for getting back ‘what you once had’. We encourage you to consider couples counseling anyway. Often, when couples reach this point where they feel they have nothing left to lose, they are more open and honest with themselves and their partner. This creates a powerful opportunity for true beliefs, feelings and experiences of each partner to emerge. This honesty is what is needed to allow the process of healing to begin. starpointcounselingtampa.com

Very often couples get caught up in patterns of negative interactions, having the same fights over and over. They don’t like it, would like to change it, but don’t know how to talk about it. Over time they become less and less connected to one another, leaving them feeling frustrated and alone in the relationship. As Emotionally Focused Couples Therapists, we help you and your partner identify the problematic interactional patterns that have developed in the relationship that often leave you feeling alone and frustrated. By exploring each partner’s experience in the relationship, we will discover your unmet needs and gain new and powerful insight into how they have been contributing to the patterns that leave you feeling disconnected from your partner. Understanding each other and these patterns in a new way promotes healing and allows for new, fulfilling patterns of interaction to evolve between you.

Whether you are struggling with worry, panic, obsessions and compulsions, substance abuse, anger, loneliness, hopelessness, sadness, low self-esteem, thoughts of suicide, relationship problems, or a combination of all of the above, please know that many of us have been there. No matter how deep and dark of a space you feel you are in please know that you don’t have to be alone. In fact, the isolation you are likely feeling could be the worst part. People care about you.  Change is possible. Affordable Counseling in Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl. has helped thousands and thousands of people with depression counseling, stress counseling, depression counseling, marriage counseling, couples counseling and relationship counseling. affordablecounselingbrandon.com starpointcounselingtampa.com starpointcounselingbrandon.com

The fighting won’t end. You long for the time when you felt your partner would do anything for you. There are so many hurts, it seems impossible to get past them. You know they can’t read your mind but why don’t they just get what you need from them after so many years. ​ You long to be loved but your partner seems to just shut down when you beg for that love and you’re fearful they’ll just leave you in the end. Or maybe your partner is overwhelming with their needs and you feel like you’ll never be enough to meet them. You can have the relationship where beyond all else, you know your partner will love you unconditionally and provide you the sense of security you didn’t even know was possible. The emotional connection you long for is possible. That you will be enough to meet their needs. ​

Maintaining a relationship that can grow and develop is a challenging journey. However, each challenge offers the potential for greatness. Couple, Relationship, & Family Therapy  has been provided by Affordable Counseling Center for Individuals, Couples, Families, Children, and Adolescent-Teens in the Tampa Fl. & Brandon Fl. for 8 years. We have a team of Therapists, that are trained in a variety of specialty areas. It is acknowledged that all of us are different in some aspect, that is what creates an interesting world. Therefore, all individuals and couples are welcome. The counseling is for those wanting to further understand themselves and their relationships with others. It offers the opportunity for self growth and awareness to live a more fulfilling life.