Focusing on Relationships with Effective Couples Counseling in Plano
Couples coaching isn’t about “fixing” your partner. It’s about learning how both members of the relationship unintentionally contribute to conflict and dissatisfaction.
Understanding “Typical” Relationship Patterns
A “typical” romantic relationship follows a fairly predictable course. For the first 1-2 years, things tend to work smoothly. Passion and energy run high, kindness and compassion come easily. During this honeymoon phase, your brain even produces a rush of “in love” chemicals that make you feel high and at ease.
As the newness of the relationship wears away, unexpected challenges begin to arise. Couples find themselves in stagnant arguments that quickly go from “0 to 60.” Aspects of your partner you once found charming or attractive may now be the very things that repeatedly frustrate you. You may feel that your partner has somehow “changed.” Couples often try to address this slump by moving to a new home or city, changing jobs or even having a baby. Sadly, these external changes rarely pump new life into the relationship for long. This is where professional couples coaching comes in.
Expert couple therapy helps couples refocus on the internal. Longstanding challenges become opportunities for profound growth and self-realization. The therapist helps couples talk through sensitive issues. The therapist guides couples in recognizing power struggles and releasing old self-defeating patterns.
While it is common knowledge that there is a 50% divorce in a first marriage, couples are often surprised to learn that second marriages have a 67% divorce rate and third marriage, 74% divorce rate! What do these divorce statistics mean? They suggest that people often repeat the same mistakes again and again in relationships. Taking personal responsibility for your relationship challenges is essential. You can spend your whole life trying to train your partner not to “push your buttons,” or you can learn to let go of your buttons.
What Are Common Issues for Couples Counseling?
Our clients choose our one-of-a-kind, nationally recognized practice because they want therapists who have achieved success and satisfaction in their own lives. They want a confident therapist who will speak to them simply and directly, who isn’t afraid to offer clear advice and firm guidance when appropriate. At the same time, our therapists know when to listen actively and compassionately, offering emotional support and heartfelt encouragement as you confront challenges in your life.
We treat couples for a range of issues, including:
- Intimacy Issues
- Financial Issues
- Infidelity, Affairs and Trust Issues
- Communication Issues
- Conflict Resolution
- Career Versus Family Commitment
- Family Planning Concerns
- In-laws and Extended Family
- Loss of Romance or Passion
- Questions About Long-Term Compatibility
- Anger Management Issues
- Substance Abuse Issues
- Pre-Marital Counseling
The First Session
Plano Whole Life Counseling is the new satellite office of Dallas Whole Life Counseling (DWLC). Serving the community since 1999, we provide a wide variety of counseling and coaching specialists who work with couples. We feel it is a profound privilege to be invited into our clients’ lives. We honor this privilege by passionately investing in our clients’ happiness and well-being.
For the first meeting, a joint session is usually best. (This is not required, if you feel it would be best for one member of the couple to meet individually at first.) During this initial meeting, the therapist will gather information about the couple’s history and background. Recent and longstanding issues within the relationship will be explored. Persistent arguments will be examined in detail, and individual communication styles will be assessed. Based on this information, the therapist will suggest a specific treatment plan for moving forward. Homework is often assigned, and concrete goals are set. For best results, couples are expected to work on their relationship between marriage counseling sessions.
At times, the therapist may meet with the members of the couple individually. Any information shared within individual sessions remains entirely confidential.
Does Couples Counseling Work?
Our couples counselors at Plano Whole Life Counseling are trained to be non-judgmental and unbiased about the outcome of couples counseling. For some couples, their hard work in, and between, sessions leads to a more deep and satisfying relationship than they had thought possible. Once their goals have been reached, they may simply touch base with the therapist from time to time to make sure they are staying on track.
Some relationships, however, are unhealthy from the get-go. In others, the couple grows apart over time to where they no longer share the same basic life goals, attitudes, or beliefs. In these instances, marriage counseling helps the couple go their separate ways as peacefully as possible, while learning from their recent struggles. Whether you utilize couple therapy to strengthen your relationship or to move on with your life is ultimately up to you and your partner.
How Do I Get Started?
If you would like to book an appointment, or have further questions, please call Plano Whole Life Counseling at (469)609-7831, or contact us via this website. Want to know about our rates? Have insurance? Click here to learn about our Rates and Insurance Policy
