Couples Therapy

A strong, thriving relationship rewards you with happiness and an incredible boost in your overall well-being. At the same time, a troubled relationship can have a devastating impact on your emotional and physical health. At Greenwich Avenue Psychiatry in Greenwich, Connecticut, Paroma Mitra, MD, Margaret Miller, DNP, LMSW, Kara Grayson, LCSW, and the team offer customized couples therapy, empowering couples with the insight and skills needed to repair their relationship. To schedule an appointment, call the office or request an appointment online today. 

What is couples therapy?

Couples therapy focuses on helping partners improve their relationship, whether they want to overcome a specific challenge or they need to identify deeply ingrained emotional and behavioral patterns that affect their interaction and communication.

Successful couples therapy generally depends on the participation of both partners. However, there may be times when your therapist recommends meeting with one partner at a time to learn more about their personal concerns.

During your initial session, you and your therapist set goals and develop a plan to guide your couples therapy.

When do couples pursue couples therapy?

While some couples seek therapy after problems have already caused stress in their relationship, others seek therapy to restore their communication and tackle concerns before their problems escalate into daily arguments and trauma.

Couples often schedule couples therapy when they can’t resolve problems such as:

• Negative communication or difficulty communicating
• Disagreements over money
• Conflicting parenting styles
• Sexual dissatisfaction
• Betrayal or infidelity
• Effect of a partner’s addiction
• Challenges of addiction
• Anger or aggression
• Mental or emotional abuse

These common relationship problems aren’t the only reason couples seek counseling. Some need help navigating major life challenges, such as losing a job, sickness, or the death of a loved one. Others need mutual support to help a partner manage a mental health disorder. 

Couples therapy can also be effective in helping a couple raise a child with special needs.

Whatever challenge is at the core of your relationship problem, the team at Greenwich Avenue Psychiatry can help.

What type of therapy might I receive during couples therapy?

The structure of your couples therapy depends on your challenges and goals. The Greenwich Avenue Psychiatry team has extensive experience in many different types of cognitive, psychodynamic, and behavioral therapies. 

Your therapist recommends an approach that best fits your needs. In some cases, they may combine therapeutic techniques. The following are a few examples of therapies used during couples therapy:

• Emotionally-focused couples therapy
• Relationship therapy
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Positive psychology
• Narrative therapy

Through your therapy, you find a better understanding of your partner and learn ways to cope with conflict, tools for resolving problems, and new strategies for communicating with your partner. 

If you need help rebuilding and strengthening your relationship, call Greenwich Avenue Psychiatry or request an appointment online today.