Couples Counseling in Kansas City, MO.

If you’re wondering if you need couples counseling enough to Google it, you probably do! Don’t wait until every conversation is an argument. Let’s get ahead of this and be preventative. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I can guide you through the process of understanding whether couples counseling is the right step for your relationship. We'll explore the potential benefits and address any concerns you may have.

Couples counseling is versatile and addresses various challenges. From communication problems to navigating life transitions to connection and intimacy issues, we'll work together to tackle the specific issues affecting your relationship.

Couples counseling is not just for crisis situations. Whether you're in the honeymoon stage, building a life together, or have been together for decades, the goal is to help you thrive in your relationship, no matter its current state. I have experience working with adult couples of all ages and all stages of life, from early twenties to retirement.

I bring a unique blend of relational therapy, emotional exploration, and the Gottman Method, creating a direct yet gentle approach. We'll explore how this combination can specifically benefit you and your partner in navigating challenges and fostering a deeper connection.

Communication is a key focus. We'll work on developing effective communication skills, allowing you both to express your needs, thoughts, feelings, and perspectives in a constructive and understanding manner. I try to create a safe, supportive holding environment where you both can feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable and authentic in your communication with one another.

Absolutely. My goal is to understand you both as individuals and as a couple. We'll address any cultural or personal differences, fostering understanding and compassion, and ultimately strengthening your connection.

Rebuilding trust is a process, and we'll navigate it together. I specialize in affair and betrayal repair, focusing on healing and rebuilding the foundation of trust in your relationship. While it is hard work to repair from infidelity and betrayal, and I usually see that it takes at least a year of real effort from both partners, I have had the privilege to witness incredible healing from betrayal and infidelity and have seen couples transform from mistrustfully dating to happily married!

Sexual issues are common, and we'll explore tailored strategies to address your concerns, fostering a healthier and more satisfying intimate connection between you and your partner. The therapy room is a safe space to talk about sex and intimacy. If these topics are uncomfortable for you, I understand, and I do everything I can to create a safe holding environment where your vulnerability is honored and everything you share about your sex life and intimacy are kept completely confidential. I also have strategies to help you and your partner discuss sex and intimacy with each other more comfortably even outside of the therapy room, at home together!

Sessions are tailored to your unique needs. We'll discuss what you can expect during a session and establish a frequency that works best for your progress and the demands of your daily lives. You can expect that the first session may be a lot of information gathering. As your couples counselor, I will need to get to know you both as individuals, as well as who you are as a couple. You also need time to get to know me to build the trust and safety necessary for the intimacy of couples’ work. I customize my approach to each couple and their comfort level. Some couples are ready to dive right into the deep stuff in the first couple of sessions, and for other couples, we start with lighter issues such as communication skills and strengthening your connection, until the couple feels comfortable enough to move into more vulnerable topics a few sessions later. Just know that whatever approach you both prefer, we will definitely do it that way.

Confidentiality is a top priority. I adhere to the ethical standards of my profession to protect your privacy. We'll discuss the specifics of confidentiality during our initial sessions, ensuring you feel secure in sharing your thoughts and experiences.

The duration of counseling varies based on the unique dynamics of each couple. Positive changes often start to become noticeable as we work through challenges and implement strategies tailored to your relationship. I have seen couples make changes and progress after just a few sessions. If betrayal or infidelity is a factor, I typically recommend six months to one year of couples counseling. For all other issues, every couple is different, but I will collaborate with you to find a pace and frequency that works best for your unique situation and relationship.

Individual therapy can complement couples counseling, offering a space for personal growth. While not always necessary, I may recommend it for one or both partners if it can enhance the overall effectiveness of our work together. Depending on the couple and the presenting issue, or if I deem that there may not be enough emotional safety to be fully open, transparent, and vulnerable in a couples session, there are some times when I may request to see you each individually for one session to get deeper insights into your more vulnerable thoughts and feelings. Any time I see a partner individually, everything they share with me is still completely confidential and private; however, I will be informed by the information shared in order to provide better care in our couples sessions. Don’t worry, though! I do not keep any “big secrets” that a client may share in an individual session with me. If a big secret is revealed (think: an affair, a job loss, a secret child/family, etc.), I will gently encourage the client to reveal it to their partner in a couples session while providing them with the guidance and support to do so. Additionally, if you are seen for an individual session, you will be charged the lower individual session fee, not the couples counseling fee for that session.

Resistance is not uncommon. We'll address concerns openly and work collaboratively to create a comfortable space for both partners. The goal is to foster a shared commitment to the process. In my experience, if one partner is more resistant to couples counseling, they typically start to feel more comfortable after meeting me in the initial session and beginning the process of getting to know me and my therapeutic style, as I intentionally work to build connection, trust, and safety with you both right from the start. If both partners are ultimately not fully willing and committed after a session or two of meeting with me, I will honestly say that couples therapy will be less effective. Implementing the tools and strategies learned in couples counseling takes work and intentional effort at home in-between sessions. Both partners ultimately need to be willing to commit to doing this intentional work between sessions for our couples counseling to have real progress and sustainable change.

Technology allows for effective virtual sessions, making couples counseling accessible to those in long-distance relationships. We'll adapt our approach to suit your unique circumstances.

Open communication is crucial. If something isn't working, we'll discuss it and explore alternative approaches. Your comfort and progress are priorities, and adjustments can be made as needed. I work very collaboratively with my clients and prioritize their needs and what they value in sessions. My clients can tell me openly and honestly if an approach, tool, or strategy isn’t right for them, and I am happy to adjust my approach! Any couple is also free to let me know any time if it doesn’t feel like a good fit between us. I welcome this information so that I am able to provide them with referrals to excellent couples therapists that I know and trust who may be a better fit for them. My goal is not to keep every couple client that I meet, but rather to help make sure that every couple client that I meet gets the help they need and deserve, whether that comes from me or a colleague that I know and trust.

Occasionally, I may provide resources such as book recommendations or an informational video if I feel that it may be helpful for the couple. Whether or not I assign “homework” will depend on the couple, their presenting issues, and how our sessions go. In some circumstances, yes, I often provide resources and assignments to enhance the work done in sessions. In other circumstances, the couples report getting everything they need just in our sessions together, especially if they are just working to understand each other more deeply or intimately. The openness and vulnerability of couples therapy conversations can be inherently transformative on their own. That said, in most cases, consistent effort outside of couples counseling sessions can significantly contribute to the effectiveness of our work together, especially if your presenting issues require me to teach specific tools or strategies or homework between sessions.

Absolutely. We'll explore strategies to manage external stressors and pressures, helping you both navigate challenges in a way that strengthens your relationship rather than straining it.

Absolutely. Couples counseling provides a space for exploration and clarity. We'll address uncertainties openly, working towards a better understanding of each partner's needs and goals. If I sense that one person is less committed than the other, that is an instance where I may recommend seeing you each individually for a session to get deeper insights into your more vulnerable thoughts and feelings about the status of your relationship. Any time I see a partner individually, everything they share with me is still completely confidential and private; however, I will be informed by the information shared in order to provide better care in our couples sessions. Don’t worry, though! I do not keep any “big secrets” that a client may share in an individual session with me. If a big secret is revealed (think: an affair, a job loss, a secret child/family, etc.), I will gently encourage the client to reveal it to their partner in a couples session while providing them with the guidance and support to do so. Additionally, if you are seen for an individual session, you will be charged the lower individual session fee, not the couples counseling fee for that session.

Yes, couples counseling is inclusive and beneficial for all types of couples, relationship styles, and relationship orientations. I have experience working with diverse relationship dynamics, including LGBTQIA+ couples, open-relationship or non-monogamous couples, polycules, etc., and approach each relationship with respect and understanding.