Marriage Counseling For One in San Diego Archives

Better Off Going To Couples Counseling Alone? In the 25 years that I’ve been working with couples I find it challenging to work with partners who are resistant and argumentative. They drain me of my own energy. I can imagine what they do to their partners. In the first session I can detect a resistant partner. They do more talking than listening and they tend to say “yes, but” after everything I say. They seldom let the other partner talk and sometimes it becomes a screaming match. I bring to their attention that both their perspectives are correct and not to turn discussions into power struggles.

unhappy couple in couples counseling

Couples counseling can be highly effective. Partners must be able to recognize and admit when their actions or expectations are unreasonable. It takes some insight to be able to do that. Bad signs that some aren’t able to do that is when they do a “rage quit” where they walk out of session yelling and sometimes crying because they can’t take constructive criticism. During the counseling process I assess whether that partner is capable or incapable of gaining insight. Some clients can’t or won’t adjust their behavior. If they won’t I find out why they won’t as they do have a choice. If they can’t I assess whether or not their is a psychological challenge (code for mental disorder) that prohibits understanding reality vs. “their reality.” If a mental illness does exist, prognosis is poor as people with mental disorders don’t see their shortcomings as irregular (ego syntonic) which means their reality is the only thing that registers to them as it’s part of their personality.

If this is the case, you’re better off going to counseling alone. The partner who continues through Marriage Counseling for One, can acquire the tools to help the relationship move forward. Implementing the newly acquired tools role models for the resistant partner what is appropriate and effective. Since individuals can only control themselves they can get the relief they need to cope when challenges exist. Couples Counseling for One does focus on the Relationship, not the Individual and adapt couples counseling techniques for use with one spouse only. Relational skills training is received by the one spouse and then teaches those skills to their partners behaviorally through day to day interaction.

Effective couples counselings requires both participants to reflect on his or her beliefs, behaviors, and impact on the other.

For more information on couples counseling for one or marriage counseling for one contact me at (858) 735-1139 visit my website at CouplesCounselorSanDiego.com

Marriage Counseling for One is an alternative for Couples who don’t or won’t go together. Waiting too long to get the help needed can create even more of a strain as delaying the counseling process can be the breaking point to any relationship in a bad place.

What Marriage/Couples Counseling for One does is focus on the Relationship, not the Individual and adapt traditional couples-counseling techniques for use with one spouse only. Relational skills training is received by the one spouse and then teaches those skills to their partners behaviorally through day to day interaction.

Whether in Marriage Counseling alone or with a spouse, it is important to understand that you cannot change anyone but yourself. Counseling is to gain insight into your own role in the dysfunctional pattern and recognizing how this role creates conflicts. It is imperative to know what you want and need from your spouse and be able to ask for what that is. Asserting yourself and getting want you want in an appropriate way not only shows you love and respect yourself, it also role models to others how you want them to treat and behave around you.

Some Individuals may feel they are not moving forward while in Marriage Counseling alone. I help them create a plan specifically for them to help them become more happier with the change they can effect in themselves. In doing so their spouse will surely see the changes made in them through their newfound independence whereby being able to appreciate the efforts made in Marriage Counseling for One and the relationship perspective changes. At any time your during the process I welcome a spouse to attend a session whether to give me his/her insight about the participant or to receive the relationship skills first hand if desired.

So if you’re tired of the ways things are and tired of relentlessly asking your spouse to counseling contact me at (858) 735-1139 for more information about Marriage/Couples Counseling For One. Who says you can’t do alone?!