Mary Williams, LPCC
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor | Claimed

For more than 20 years, I have worked with couples who were struggling with staying together due to cheating, communication problems, lack of emotional connection, and placing lesser priorities above the needs of the relationship. What I have found to work in all of these situations is for the couple to speak openly and transparently about what is happening in the relationship, how did these issues start, and how will each partner commit to resolving the issue. I utilize two couple therapy approaches and they are Emotional Focused Couple Therapy and The Gottman Method. In both approaches, it is extremely important to identify the negative interaction patterns within the relationship, the triggering interactions, andattachment style. Once the couple starts to engage in healthy dialogue that seeks understanding, the dynamics within the relationship may change and each partner may start to feel safe, heard, and valued.

All couples are welcomed regardless of class, religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, and disability. Tbere are no quick fixes in couples therapy. Couple counseling will have its ups and downs. But, each person within the relationship must remember what are the goals they are working on. Each person may have to do some shifting in their views and beliefs about what is a healthy relationship and make commitments to changing in order to save the relationship.