Couples Counseling & Marriage Therapy Walnut Creek

While interpersonal conflicts are sometimes excruciatingly painful, an effective marriage counselor can illuminate these conflicts as an unexpected source of personal and spiritual growth. These issues can create a “rub” that can give couples an opportunity and an incentive to stretch beyond their previous comfort to a new level of trust and intimacy. With specific couples, IMAGO THERAPY may be indicated as a preferred choice of intervention.

It has been researched that about 70% of our “overreactions” and/or deepest hurts and disappointments stem from our past in the form of old wounds and unprocessed emotions, while only 30% come from the triggering current situation. But when a specialized marital therapist can uncover, process, and help heal these wounds, both partners can learn how to love themselves and each other in a way previously inaccessible to them.

Surprisingly to most, Caree’s breakthrough strategies can create a deep change in a very short time, often in one or two sessions, with long-lasting results.

Most couples Have the Ability to Heal

As Caree helps to foster a deeper understanding of their partner, as well as themselves, she will also help couples better able define and communicate their needs and preferences in a way that will make each other feel most loved. Our first step in improving a damaged relationship is to teach clients how to control their emotions, stay calm, and use healthy communication skills to resolve problems both new and old. As result, many partners see their communication vastly improved, which results in less tension.

In my 50 years of marriage counseling experience, I have found that even couples on the brink of divorce have actually been able to fall in love with each other all over again – when they LEARN TO LOVE EACH OTHER IN WAYS THAT ARE PRECISELY MOST SATISFYING TO THEM, referencing the Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.

If one partner is unwilling to come in to work on the relationship, an unusual part of my practice is seeing the more motivated partner alone with unexpectedly positive results. Helping just one person in the couple make certain changes will often precipitate change in the other and ultimately, in the relationship as a whole.

Strategies for a Successful Relationship

Caree is happy to share here a few of her HELPFUL STRATEGIES that can work wonders for couples:

  • Thoughtfully express and process all current and old resentments
  • First, seek to understand before you seek to be understood.
  • Make a request instead of a complaint.
  • Distinguish between intention and impact.
  • Give 7 compliments to every one criticism. (500 reportedly “happily married couples” shared only this one variable)

For those couples already separated or divorced, many find my specialty in marital and family therapy very helpful in mediating and negotiating issues around child visitation, financial issues, parent-child concerns, and blended families.