Couples Counseling

Christian couples counseling at Tacoma Christian Counseling offers you and your partner a safe, compassionate place where you can express your relationship needs and concerns. By focusing on the relationship along with the unique perspectives of each partner, we can work to change areas of weakness both on an individual level and as it pertains to how you interact with each other. God created us with a need to connect with others, but sometimes cares and temptations in this world stand in the way of what we could have in Christ. By leaning on faith and drawing wisdom and guidance from the teachings of Jesus, you can build a relationship as God intended — one of love, compassion, and dedication.

Sometimes it’s hard to know when it’s time for counseling. Unlike when you become sick and need a doctor, the signs aren’t always so clear. Oftentimes, couples try for years before they get help, and unfortunately many go their separate ways before giving Christian couples counseling a try. If you struggle with relationship problems like the following, know there is help available to you at Tacoma Christian Counseling:

• Communication problems – One of the hardest relationship problems for couples to resolve is negative communication. Most of us have experienced this at some point — the kind of talk that leaves you feeling depressed, unheard, angry, or like you have to withdraw from the conversation to prevent hostility. Lack of communication can be just as bad as harmful communication, which is a rut that many couples fall into after trying to communicate without getting the results they want.

Her: “I feel like I’m talking to a brick wall. No matter how many times I try, I can’t get through to him. Then we just fight and nothing is ever any better after.”

Him: “I’m always doing something wrong, and I just don’t want to hear it. Nothing I say matters anyway.”

• Infidelity – Whether you or your partner has had an affair or is considering one, it’s best to get help as soon as possible. It is possible to recover from infidelity, but it’s a problem best handled immediately for optimal results.

Him: “She doesn’t seem to have any interest in me anymore. Sometimes I think about having an affair.”

Her: “There’s something missing. I don’t feel like I used to, and that makes it difficult to be in the mood.”

• Lack of emotional intimacy – Few things are as painful as feeling alone in your relationship. Couples who seek Christian couples counseling often say they feel distant from their partner and emotionally disconnected. This makes other things, like communication, more difficult and can lead to increased conflict and infidelity in some cases.

Her: “I’m tired of feeling like I’m alone. He’s distant and never seems to have time for me.”

Him: “She blocks me out and completely ignores me. I ask what’s wrong, and she won’t say anything.”

• Unresolved conflict – Frequent conflict over repeated issues becomes emotionally draining. Christian couples counseling is great for people who need an unbiased perspective to help them resolve arguments.

Him: “There always seems to be a problem. I can’t do anything right.”

Her: “No matter how hard I try we can’t fix this. It’s like he can’t hear me.”

• Damaging behaviors – When relationships become strained, couples often fall into negative behaviors as a way of expressing the painful emotions they carry. Often the person isn’t fully aware of how they are acting, and before they know it, the behavior becomes a habit that can be hard to break.

Her: “He gets in these moods where he is so short tempered. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells, trying not to make him angry.”

Him: “She jabs at me constantly. It’s like she’s always looking for something wrong that I’m doing, just to give me a hard time for no reason.”

Struggling with relationship problems can leave you feeling drained and hopeless. Before you go your separate ways, we encourage you to try Christian couples counseling. We’ve had the honor of witnessing firsthand the amazing power of Christ as he transforms even the most broken of relationships. Whether your troubles are mild or severe, we are here for you at Tacoma Christian Counseling.

Some are reluctant to try Christian couples counseling, sometimes worrying that it won’t work or that it will make things worse. According to an article published on Webmd. com, “Studies show that, in the hands of a good counselor, marriage counseling is successful 70- 80% of the time.” Finding a qualified couples counselor is key. At Tacoma Christian Counseling, we provide reliable Christian couples counseling with a high rate of success.

Benefits of Christian Couples Counseling

Everyone enters Christian couples counseling with similar goals. Their relationship is in danger, and they haven’t been able solve the relationship problems on their own. Through effective Christian couples counseling you will:

• Change how you look at your relationship problems – If you’re like most people, it’s easier to see relationship problems from a perspective that places most blame on the other person. Help from your unbiased counselor will show you how to view your relationship more objectively, without focusing too much on who is “at fault.” While accountability is important, it’s also important to understand that most situations affect each partner, and both have a story to tell.
• Work to end destructive behavior – One of the main goals of Christian couples counseling is to modify behavior that harms the relationship. You will learn how to interact differently with each other, in a way that is healthy and resolves conflict constructively. Your counselor will look for signs of psychological, physical, or financial harm and might recommend additional counseling (such as Christian counseling for anger management).
• Improve communication – You will learn how to express yourself and how to actively listen to the needs and concerns of your partner. Focusing on how to express your emotions without name calling, degrading remarks, or other forms of negative talk will help you avoid increased conflict and rather work towards practical solutions.
• Learn to break emotional barriers – Many seek Christian couples counseling because they feel disconnected from their partner. Through counseling you will learn how to address these issues, whether you have difficulty expressing your emotions or you have put up protective emotional barriers because of past hurt.
• Nurture your strengths – When struggling with relationship problems it can be difficult to acknowledge the positive aspects of the relationship. In Christian couples counseling you will learn tools for not only recognizing the positive, but also nurturing it as a way to bring closeness and happiness to the relationship.

Tacoma Christian Counseling offers a variety of counseling methods to suit the varying needs of our clients. Whatever struggles you face as a couple, we are here to provide you with support and hope through Christ.

If you or your partner is apprehensive about Christian couples counseling, you are not alone.

The idea of revealing details about your most intimate and private relationship can seem scary. Learning about what to expect in couples counseling might help ease any fears you or your partner feel about Christian counseling.

Christian Couples Counseling Techniques

There are many techniques for Christian couples counseling. Your Christian counselor will evaluate the needs of your relationship and determine which approach will be most effective. Some of the most common couples counseling techniques include:

• Gottman Method – This method shows you how to create “love maps” that help you better understand your partner by mapping your partner’s fears, stresses, hopes, joys, and history. The goal is to build stronger respect and appreciation for each other while allowing you to express your needs. You will also learn how to manage conflict rather than conflict resolution.
• Crucible Approach Couples Counseling – This revolutionary counseling method takes a close look at building sexual intimacy. By learning to mature and grow within oneself, you are able to overcome a variety of issues as a couple. This method identifies problem areas that hinder intimacy and offers out-of-the-box solutions that last.
• Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy – This approach is usually rather short term and has three main goals. The first is to change the harmful emotional responses of each spouse. Secondly, you will work towards building a strong bond between you and your partner. Lastly, you will learn how to interact with each other in ways that are healthy rather than damaging.
• Narrative Therapy – With this method you will describe your problems in narrative form. This creates a separation between the problem and the person while allowing you to express your concerns freely. Your counselor will help you rewrite the negative parts of the story as well. This method helps you and your partner gain a new perspective that doesn’t define a person by their problems or mistakes.
• Psychodynamic Approach – Sometimes our pasts, such as issues in childhood, can have negative effects on our adult relationships. This approach brings to light the unconscious causes for your problems in order to change irrational patterns.

Why Choose Tacoma Christian Counseling?

“How to fix a relationship” is one of the top searches in Google. Most people suffer from relationship problems at some point in their lives, but finding reliable help can be challenging. Amidst all the self-help books, internet articles, and counseling professionals out there it’s easy to become overwhelmed by it all. So, why trust Tacoma Christian Counseling? Here’s why:

• Faith-based approach – Faith in God’s word and the healing powers of Christ are the foundation on which we build our practice. We welcome you to not only integrate your values into the counseling process, but to lean on them for strength, support, and guidance. Through evidence-based counseling methods made whole through Christ, you are provided with all the tools you need for healing and redemption.
• Experience you can trust – Tacoma Christian Counseling is home to some of Washington’s best marriage and family therapists. With years of experience and in-depth training on a variety of Christian couples counseling methods, you’re sure to find a counselor that fits your needs.
• Risk-free initial session – We know the importance of finding the right Christian counseling professional for you. That is why we offer our clients the safety of a risk-free initial session, to ease your concern so you can find the help you need.

Give your relationship a fighting chance. At Tacoma Christian Counseling, we are dedicated to providing each partner with a safe, non-judgmental place for expression as you work towards self-awareness, healing, and new beginnings with Christian couples counseling.

Does couples counseling work?

There are many studies on the effectiveness of couples counseling that show that on average over 90% are satisfied with the experience. Typically couples find that Christian couples counseling gave them the tools and perspectives they lacked for forming healthy, happy relationships

Does insurance pay for Christian couples counseling?

Tacoma Christian Counseling works with many health insurance providers and insurance contracts vary. If you have any questions about payment options, feel free to give us a call. You will probably need to contact your insurance provider for more information regarding your coverage. If you have any additional questions about payment options, feel free to give us a call.

How do I find the right Christian counselor?

Finding the right Christian counseling professional is very important. We encourage you to find a qualified marriage and family therapist because they are trained in the many intricacies of relationship dynamics. Feel free to browse our counselor profiles for more information.

What if my partner won’t attend Christian couples counseling?

Ideally, both partners attend couples counseling. However, if you are struggling with relationship problems, we can still help you through individual Christian counseling.

Now’s the time to start a new with Christian couples counseling. Contact us today!

To learn more about Christian couples counseling, or to schedule an appointment with Tacoma Christian Counseling, simply contact us online or give us a call at (253) 777-1997.