Couples Counseling Silver Spring, MD

At Lindsey Hoskins & Associates, therapists for couples counseling in Silver Spring, MD have been providing therapy services, including couples counselling, for years. In our experience, we have found that a majority of couples who are struggling in some way with their relationship, have been able to solve their issues with the right support, guidance, and tools. As long as you possess a desire to better your relationship, and you are ready to put everything you learn into practice, couples counselling may be right for you.

Our Couples Counselling Services:

Pre-marital counseling
Infidelity counseling
Same sex counseling
Marriage or relationship counseling

Topics We Frequently Support Couples With:

Infidelity and affair
Infertility
Family planning
Financial issues
Preparing for marriage
Religions/ political indifferences
Problems with inlaws and exterior family matters
Big changes (i.e. moving far away)
Illness
Grief
Mental disorders
Legal problems (i.e. getting arrested)
+ More

How Your Couples Counselling Sessions May Work

In general, the earliest days of a relationship are the easier. Things might feel easy, and both of you are able to get along. However, as time goes by, both of you may begin to notice, and dislike, one anothers’ negative traits. Furthermore, you may become older and change your preferences; of which could result in a disagreeance or distance.

The way in which you view and respond to issues like these can make a difference in how the relationship will continue to unfold. For example, if either of you view them in a, let’s call it, a negative way, the relationship might struggle. Whereas, if you can learn to appreciate or accept these issues, or are able to communicate with them in a healthy way during MD couples counseling, the relationship may blossom.

You might be thinking, this is easier said than done, and for many couples, a statement like this holds true. The good news is that couples counseling can help you to appreciate, accept, cope, address, and resolve concerns and issues that might act as an obstacle towards a healthy relationship.

What a Couples Counselling Session Will Not Involve

Perhaps you’re thinking that couples counselling might be just the thing you relationship needs to thrive; however, taking that first step can be the most difficult. In fact, many couples tell us that at least one spouse/partner had reservations about opening up to someone they did not know – especially when personal issues are a factor. Rest assured, we understand concerns like these and would like to tell you, confidently, that we will not judge either one of you. We will not take sides. And, everything we discuss will remain confidential.

A couples counselor will act as a neutral, unbiased third party who will mediate and oversee the dialogue between both of you during couples counseling in Silver Spring. It is certainly possible that your counselor will guide or encourage the dialogue to flow towards a certain point, or goal, but they are not there to promote arguing.

It is not uncommon for issues to come up in a relationship that may benefit from couples counseling Silver Spring, Maryland at Lindsey Hoskins & Associates.

What We Do and Who We Work With

Couples counseling can be helpful for partners who find themselves facing a challenge in any aspect of their relationship. Our therapists have extensive experience working with couples in all different types of relationships and facing the full spectrum of relationship problems. We work with dating couples, engaged couples, newly married couples, partners who are in committed non-marital relationships, and couples who have been married for any length of time. In our experience, couples counseling is most effective when both partners participate willingly, fully, and enthusiastically.

Who Can Benefit From Couples Counseling:

Dating Couples

Many couples who are dating and are considering that this person could be “the one” find that counseling can be helpful in working through some of the issues that may come up after the butterfly phase of the relationship has passed. It is not uncommon for people who are newly dating to see only the wonderful aspects of their significant other’s personality.

After a few months, however, as the couple begins feeling more and more comfortable around each other, true aspects of their personalities emerge. Some issues come up that end up being deal breakers in a relationship that otherwise made both people happy. Many dating couples who hit these roadblocks and go to Silver Spring couples counseling find that they are able to work through them together and move past them to take the relationship to the next level.

Engaged Couples

Couples counseling is something many engaged couples have begun adding to the wedding-to-do-list. In fact, some studies have shown that premarital couples counseling decreases the risk of divorce by 30 percent for the first five years of marriage. Many couples also say they are much happier and satisfied compared to couples who didn’t attend couples counseling.

Married Couples

Even in the happiest of marriages, issues can arise that can put a strain on the couple’s relationship. The key is to address those issues as they come up. If you cannot work them out together, we can help you work through these problems and also learn how to overcome difficult issues that may come up in the future. Unfortunately, many married couples often put off or ignore dealing with problems and that only deepens the chasm between them. Our therapists can help in those situations too.

Long-Term Committed Couples

Couples who are in long-term committed relationship but have no plans to get wed can also benefit from couples counseling. Although the couple may not be legally married, they may still face some of the same issues that couples who are married face when it comes to communication, trust, intimacy, or parenting issues.

Same-Sex Couples

Many LGBT couples can also benefit from Maryland couples counseling, whether it is because they want to strengthen the relationship the currently have or they need help working through problems that are causing strain in the relationship. In addition to common couple issues, LGBT relationships have some unique issues that come up and that is why it is important to meet with a counselor who has been trained and is aware of what some of those issues are. Lindsey Hoskins & Associates has worked with many same-sex couples and are therapist are empathetic to the challenges that LGBT couples can face.

Separated or Divorcing Couples (may also choose Family Therapy):

There are many reasons why a couple may decide to attend couples counseling when they are divorcing. If they have children together, they still need to work together as a parenting team, regardless of their romantic relationship status. Counseling can teach them to do that, as well as help them resolve any lingering resentments or anger left over from the marriage.

Issues That Can Be Addressed in Couples Counseling:

Improving communication patterns, or developing non-abusive forms of communication
Rebuilding or strengthening trust
Increasing intimacy
Preparing for cohabitation or marriage
Moving past an affair or other transgression
Deciding whether to continue a relationship
Reconciling different parenting skills

Preparing for Couples Counseling at Lindsey Hoskins & Associates

Whether you and your partner are continuously engaged in arguments, or you are both unable to pinpoint what the problem is, but you know something isn’t right, couple counselling sessions may be ideal. There are many benefits to Silver Springs, Maryland couples counseling sessions; however, you cannot expect them to always go as planned. To better prepare you for what is to come, consider these preparation tips from a couples counselor:

Both of You Should Be Invested in the Sessions

Although this might seem obvious, it is certainly possible that one of you will be more enthusiastic about the sessions than the other. The party who suggests the sessions will feel positive about going to them while the other party may be more reluctant. If your spouse is hesitant about going to couples counseling, you should not force him or her into going to them, but rather take time to understand their concerns. In the event you are unable to convince them into giving couples counselling a try, you may want to think about individual counselling sessions.

Talk About Your Goals With One Another

If both of you are ready for couples counseling, you should take a moment to talk about your shared goals. Some questions to ask one another may include:

What are we hoping to achieve?
How would we like to grow as a couple?
Could we improve our communication?
Is there verbal, mental, or physical abuse going on?
Should we work on our conflict style?
Does our intimacy need to be improved?
Do we need to work on our listening skills?

The answers to these questions will help both of you to gain a better understanding of what you would like to get out of your sessions.

Look for a Couples Counselor You Both Feel Comfortable With
Every counselor is different and will have their own unique approach and style. It is important to choose a counselor that both of you feel comfortable with. Some tips to help you include:

Create a list of questions for your counselor, such as “Do you have experience with [our issue]?” Keep in mind that a couples counselor will almost certainly have dealt with a broad range of issues, so it is better to be honest from the very beginning so as to address and fix your problem as soon as possible.
Schedule an on-the-phone or in person interview with the counselor and get to know who they are. If you both feel comfortable, you can proceed with weekly sessions

Be Ready to Talk About Your Past

Although you might think that the sessions for couples counseling will only revolve around issues related to your relationship, this is not always true. A couples counselor from Lindsey Hoskins & Associates may want to understand your background and family history. Getting to know your attachment style, emotional bonds, and other factors can provide insight into how both of you relate to others.

Finally, remember that it is okay to feel nervous about your first session. This is normal and overtime you and your partner will feel more comfortable. Pat yourself on the back for taking this step. As long as both of you remain committed and are ready to put in the effort, you will be off to a great start.

Types of Silver Springs Couples Counseling Sessions

Often, couples counseling includes some individual sessions with each partner so that each may focus on his or her own processes and needs within the couple relationship. However, one or both partners may wish to pursue individual therapy to work on personal issues that are less related to the partner relationship. Your therapist can help you decide whether this should be done with the same therapist, or with another therapist either inside or outside the practice.

If you would like to make an appointment for Silver Spring couples counseling in Maryland, call Lindsey Hoskins & Associates right away at 240-752-7650.