Couples Therapy Q & A

How can couples therapy help my relationship?

Intimate relationships are difficult. You may have started out strong, and long for the way things used to be – how you’d catch your partner’s eye, the giddiness in every meet-up, and the excitement of a growing love.

With time and life challenges, communication can break down, connections fade, and love may feel lost. Couples therapy can help in these instances and may also assist you in:

• Improving communication

• Navigating life transitions

• Working through grief and loss

• Managing in-law dynamics

• Facing infertility or postpartum depression or anxiety

• Repairing the relationship after infidelity

Couples therapy can restore connection and help you and your partner realize you’re not alone.

When should I seek couples therapy?

The decision to see Dr. Branda for couples therapy is unique to your situation. But some instances that might benefit from therapy include:

Blended families

Blending children from other relationships can pose notable challenges. Differing opinions about how to parent, the role of the outside parent, and the new dynamics of the family can be explored and worked through.

Trust issues

Trust is a critical part of a relationship. When it’s been eroded or destroyed, maintaining a healthy relationship is difficult. Dr. Branda can help you learn to trust again after infidelity, an emotional affair, or deceptive money practices. She guides you in understanding the process and providing the tools and direction to help.

Frequent clashes

If your day-to-day pattern is to be in regular conflict, whether it’s exchanging heated words or having full-on fights, you’d benefit from couples therapy. Therapy helps you learn why you’re clashing and how to communicate better.

Poor communication

You may not be fighting all the time, but if one or both parties feel misunderstood or ignored, it erodes a relationship. Dr. Branda can help improve the quality and frequency of communication, which strengthens your ties and helps you feel more connected.

Premarital counseling

Prior to marriage, premarital counseling can help you work through some of the issues that can cause problems after the honeymoon. These include issues with in-laws, financial management, and household chores.

Should I seek couples therapy even if I don’t know exactly what’s wrong?

You may be unable to pinpoint a specific instance or behavior, but know that something feels “off” in your relationship. Dr. Branda works with you and your partner to identify problems, even when you’re not sure exactly what’s wrong in the relationship. 

If you find you just don’t feel comfortable around your partner anymore, that you resent them, or that the dynamics of your relationship have just changed, schedule an appointment to work through your issues together.

Whether you’re looking for a stronger bond or repair for a bond that’s broken or weak, contact Dr. Branda for couples counseling. Call the Summit Psychology office or use the website to book an online session.