Great Couples Counseling in Rising Sun, MD. Therapy to heal relationships.

The most important thing in couples therapy is helping both people learn what they can do differently to transform negative patterns into a mutually respectful, loving relationship. When people learn to really listen to each other, communication improves. Understanding and compassion take the place of anger and resentment, transforming power struggles into mutual support. What a relief! I specialize in helping couples move beyond the crisis of infidelity to create a relationship that's better and stronger than ever. When this happens, trust is rebuilt and both partners gain confidence that they will never again suffer the pain of an affair

The special aspect to our couples counseling services is our ability to involve neuroscience in the breakdown in communications between couples. Counseling of the couple takes on much more effect, when we can track vital signs and understand the biochemical change that gets between you, to interfere with your communications. If necessary, we can also conduct a brain map on both members of the couple, and identify the specific sites of the brain that create this 'incompatibility', causing the friction. And then the solutions become so much more varied and rich!

There are two most basic fears of intimacy that we all have: one is fear of abandonment, the other is fear of being taken over, of losing my autonomy. In a relationship, people often become polarized with one clinging and the other seeming distant. With awareness of our fears and how to take care of ourselves and each other, we will bring out the best in each other. Everyone knows how to speak and listen, right? Not so. The most difficult skills to learn are to speak self-responsibly about your own experience and to truly listen and understand the other person's experience even when you don't like it. To learn these skills enables love. I can help.

When couples have problems that they cannot fix, oftentimes they will turn to a therapist to help to sort things out. When a therapist works with a couple, it is the relationship that is the client; not the two people in the relationship. So, when working with a couple, the goal is to help them to understand what is not working in their relationship, and why, and also what to do to improve how they are doing the relationship.

The first kiss, the fun in the flirtation and the comfort of a warm hug from a partner gives us hope in the couples relationship. But, being in a couple (either heterosexual or homosexual) is HARD. We strive to get our needs met, be heard and find balance in the relationship. Many couples find that when their kids leave the home that their connection has suffered. Often it just takes an unbiased person to help maneuver through that age old argument or the newest wound. I have worked with many couples who have rediscovered their passion and realized how much they not only love each other, but really like each other as well.

My work with couples revolves around parenting and management of symptoms in their children. I do not provide traditional couples or marriage therapy. Most of my work with parents involves supporting them while they help their children navigate challenging circumstances or symptoms. This can include behavioral concerns, sleep problems, managing medical conditions, and childhood mood symptoms.