What is Marriage & Family Counseling?
Marriage and family counseling—also known as couples and family therapy—is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on improving relationships within families and between couples. It helps people communicate better, resolve conflicts, and build stronger emotional connections.
At Spirit of Hope Counseling Center we have helped hundreds of couples rekindle and reconnect their relationships. We have helped couples through whatever marital transition they are going through and we have also helped families with the variety of family issues that arise. Parenting concerns are also our specialty and addressing adolescents, young adults, adult children, grand parenting and even returning adult children to the home.
Here’s what it generally involves:
1. Focus on Relationships
Instead of treating just an individual, the therapist looks at the family or couple as a system. Problems are viewed in the context of relationships, not just as individual issues.
2. Who It's For?
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Married couples dealing with conflict, infidelity, intimacy issues, addictions or communication breakdowns
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Families experiencing stress, parenting challenges, behavioral issues with kids, launching or relaunching adult kids, or major life changes (like separation, divorce or loss)
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3. Goals of Therapy
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Improve communication and learn conflict resolution skills
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Solve family problems
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Understand and handle special family situations (like blended families or addiction and mental illness)
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Create healthier boundaries and roles
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Address codependency problems and learn to set boundaries to say “NO.”
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4. Techniques Used
Therapists might use role-playing, conflict resolution exercises, or communication skills training. If necessary, we also focus on family of origin issues that impact relationships negatively. Sessions can be with the whole family, just the couple, or even individuals at times.
5. Short-Term, Solution-Focused and Trauma Resolution
Marriage and family therapy is often short-term and focused on practical solutions to improve daily life and long-term functioning. If trauma has been apart of someone’s history, we certainly address those issues due to the impact it can have on relationships.