Great Couples Counseling in Playa Del Rey, CA. Therapy to heal relationships.

Relationships are the stuff of life and wise persons will attend carefully to their intimate, committed relationship. Most couples are not aware of the sources of conflict and how these sources impact their relationships. Most couples do not understand how their coping habits, learned the child and teen years, will actually interfere with success in their love relationship. Couples all need to learn new and better ways to cope with relationships pain as their old coping habits will not work -- they will end up unintentionally hurting their partner.

Many people can benefit from couples therapy sessions, even if their relationships do not have obvious problems. People often wait until very late in the game before seeking help, often times after one or both have already decided to end the relationship. Seeking the help of a psychologist can strengthen the behavioral and emotional bonds that keep couples together. Couples therapy changes the way that couples behave with each other. Sessions focus on improving interactions and building resilience. By focusing on the “Three C’s” of intimacy (closeness, communication, and commitment), partners learn how to achieve intimacy with their romantic partners rather than isolation

When couples wish to work through their relationship difficulties, or do premarital couples therapy, they will find my office to be a safe, nonjudmental, and encouraging space. You will colaborate with your spouse, and prioritize issues you'd like to discuss. You will explore your own ability for acceptance and tolerance of your spouse's behavior. We will work together on communication skills, and styles, we'll try to soften the dialogue. We'll learn about problem solving skills with which husband and wife are heard. If there are sexual problems, I have experience in treating sex addiction, internet pornography addiction, and the affect of extended families on your relationship.

All couples face challenges in a relationship. What makes some relationships last and others that don't is a combination of communication skills and commitment to making the marriage work. Many marriages test people to their limit, but that doesn't mean it's a bad marriage. If you are able to hang in there and work with a trusted professional, you can expand and grow into a more loving and nurturing person.

Relationships are an area where young adults can struggle. Wanting to create lasting bonds, they don't always think about who is a good match for them, given their family values, and plans for their life. Past failed relationships can also leave sensitive young adults hesitant to open their hearts and try to find love again. I help sensitive young adults discover what it takes to create the loving relationship they've always dreamed of.

Married, dating, heterosexual, gay, or bisexual? I specialize in emotional intimacy, sex, addiction, and trauma, any of which can derail a relationship. You can heal your relationship or end it. I can help either way. Improve communication and handle conflicts better. Get your emotional baggage out of the way so it doesn’t hurt your relationship. Better for the couple and especially better when there are kids. Have kids and you’re divorcing? You’re still tied together. We can make that less damaging for everyone. Kids do better when their divorced parents work together for the kids’ best interest – dealing with emotions and communication better and not putting kids in the middle.

I work with couples, gays and straights in all situations. Sometimes persons feel different and learning that we all really want the same thing in life which is understanding and love. Good COMMUNICATION is the key to LOVE! I can teach you how anger is changed into good communication when the methods are artfully taught. When anger is handled properly love ensues! Come in and test this method!!! What you say to another person is so important because that other person may not be able to forget those words. Changing the words helps you and your major relationships and can open up a new world in personal and business relationships. I use Imago Therapy tools and Relational life tools to help.

I have worked with many couples over the years...married, living together, same sex or heterosexual. My initial focus is to understand the underlying dynamics and pain that each of the partners is experiencing in the relationship and what has caused the conflict, disappointment and distress they now feel. I then work to help each of them understand the needs of the other, and be able to communicate (hearing what the other means and "feels" and expressing what they need and feel) in more loving, respectful and clear ways. We work together to restore the attachment and bond that has been damaged so that they can rediscover love, intimacy, trust and respect for each other.

Problems you may be experiencing in your relationship do not occur overnight. It takes relationship neglect over time before significant problems develop. When you withhold feelings, especially feelings of hurt, the hurt soon turns into resentment. When resentful, neither partner can hear what is being said and you may then soon experience an "emotional deadening" where you and your partner feel as though you are more like roommates than soulmates. When the passion fades and the communication and connection fail, it's imperative that you seek counseling. Feel free to call my office for a free 15 minute phone consultation at 800-474-1445 or email me at Garydoctor@aol.com.

All relationships fall into conflict or distress at some point. The bond between partners will begin to unravel at times during our lives. We do learn from scratch with our adult lovers and adult relationships unless we have been fortunate enough to have been given a secure model of a relationship from our parents. Some of us have to trust our instinct alone as we fight long and hard to repair the relationship when we feel our bond unravel with our partners. When we find ourselves estranged from our partners, we find ourselves confused and conflicted. That trusted partner now shows up as the "Enemy" or even a "Stranger" when we once believed that they were the "One." Becoming more acquainted with attachment theory may provide some...(view profile to read more)

I enjoy working collaboratively with couples and moving towards what they want their story to be. What do they stand for as a couple? What is getting in the way of their desired story? What are their strengths? How are the outside influences such as culture and family affecting them? How can they come together based on their values? Is there healing to be done in the areas of trust, jealousy, or infidelity? Every relationship is different and I help all types of couples re-connect and move forward.

Is your relationship full of miss-communications or missed opportunities to reconnect? Have you experienced a traumatic event that has thrown each of you into isolation? Situations can happen which cause you to develop negative communication patterns and extreme misunderstandings. You did not come together to live alone. If you have been settling for living together as roommates, it may be time to reach out for professional help. Relationships can become distressed, or simply just get stuck. Cindy is here to listen, partner with you, and create a treatment plan specific to your needs. Couples counseling is tough work. If you are ready - I'm here to help and partner with you through it all. Come, begin your journey back in to the relationship you...(view profile to read more)

Communication and Commitment-- two vital words for Couples. I've heard it said we choose to love someone and we choose to stay in love with that person. Are you going to hightail it out of there after the first sign of conflict or stay and face the music? That music can be beautiful when seasoned with the right tools and mindset. Couple relationships are not always Romance and Caviar. There are dry spells. I'd like to show you how to weather the dry spells and increase the joy and romance in your relationship. I will show you how to prevent the conflicts and trials of life from robbing that first love you felt in the beginning. I can help you restore that sweetness and passion.