Catherine Warnock, LPCC
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor | Claimed

From my experience, most couple/married relationships suffer because it can be hard to communicate with each other. Good communication not only involves being able to express thoughts and feeling accurately, it also requires listening skills and an understanding of what filters we have established that might be interfering. In other words, the message sent may not be the message received. Most people do not receive formal training on how to effectively communicate. Instead, we tend to learn how to communicate by what was modeled for us in the culture and environment we are raised in. In the beginning of a relationship, we can easily overlook the confusion we experience but over time poor communication can cause strife and distance in the relationship.

As a couples/marriage counselor, my goal is the help both partners identify, understand, and change the relationship patterns that have not been working. Once we have implemented some ground rules about communication, we can then explore what actions and behaviors are occurring in the relationship that are causing hurt or pain. We then heal the relationship by implementing new ways and patterns that are more effective and provide deeper connection. My role as a counselor is to protect and be a voice for the relationship; keeping this mindset, prevents me from siding with one partner or another.