Over the last 30-plus years of working with couples in our Greenville, SC practice we’ve found that people share many of the same questions and concerns about what to expect from marriage counseling, what actually happens in a session, and how to even select a good therapist in the first place. Here are the questions we get asked most frequently:
Why are my partner and I having these problems?
Men and women are different, and those differences often create conflict, pain, & frustration in relationships. But there really are practical ways to improve communication, increase passion & intimacy, and make your marriage everything you always hoped it would be. By integrating the Mars & Venus perspective with proven communication strategies, our unique approach can help you transform your relationship.
Shouldn’t we be able to fix this on our own?
When couples confront problems on their own, they often do what we call “shooting at symptoms” – thinking that the problem is “we’re not having sex” or “we’re always arguing about money.” Most often, these are just symptoms of deeper issues, so focusing on the symptoms doesn’t make a significant difference. We can help you avoid that frustration by identifying what the real core issues are, and helping you make the foundational types of changes required to really turn things around quickly and permanently.
But what if it’s too late to save our relationship?
Even if you think you’ve waited too long, you may be surprised at the difference that expert help can make. We understand what it feels like when you can’t imagine things getting any better…when you and your partner have done so much damage to each other that you can’t believe there are any pieces left to put back together. But the one thing we want you to know is that it really is possible to heal from any amount of damage in a relationship – and even make your marriage better, stronger, and happier than it ever was before.
But what if my partner won’t come with me?
When one partner makes the first move, the other often follows suit. But even if they don’t, we’ve found that even one partner who is committed to improving their marriage can have a dramatic impact on the quality of that relationship. When you change your approach to your partner, your partner can’t help but change their response to you.
What exactly happens in a counseling session?
You’ll be working with one of our expert therapists who will act as a “relationship coach,” drawing attention to patterns and problems you can’t see. He or she will help you begin creating an atmosphere of caring and trust in your marriage, make constructive changes instead of placing blame, and really develop a whole new level of understanding and appreciation for each other.
But isn’t marriage counseling expensive?
We make it as convenient and affordable as possible for you to get the help you need. We accept most major credit cards and many types of health insurance – we even take care of filing your claims for you. Each therapist in our practice offers flexible scheduling, and new clients are assured of being seen promptly.
But what if I’m too far away to come to your office?
We recognize that some people live too far away to make it practical for them to come in for regular face-to-face counseling sessions. Because of this, for the last several years we’ve been doing phone consultation with clients all over the U.S. and Canada. This has proven to be a very cost effective and time efficient approach for many, and the benefits are comparable to what clients receive from in-office sessions.
