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do You Feel Alone Or Dissatisfied In Your Relationship?
- Do you and your partner keep having the same fight; and when it's done, you don't even remember what it was about?
- Perhaps you’ve been married or partnered for a while, and precious time that used to be reserved for your relationship is now allotted to work, children and other responsibilities.
- Perhaps unresolved feelings are so built up that you don’t feel comfortable expressing your marriage problems openly or don’t know how to have honest discussions anymore, especially if confrontations often lead to silence or unhelpful outbursts.
- Have unexpected events, such as an affair, career change or loss of a loved one, put a strain on a relationship you thought could survive anything?
- Do you feel detached and alone in the partnership?
- Are you on the brink of giving up? You may be considering divorce counseling, so that you can save on lawyer costs and have an amicable separation from your spouse.
Being at odds with your partner can be a lonely and frustrating experience. The stress of juggling the responsibilities of a family and career with daily responsibilities often leaves people feeling overwhelmed. Add the stress of feeling disconnected from your partner or feeling unsure about the trajectory of your relationship, and your life can begin to feel deeply dissatisfying. If there’s been a breach of trust or other unexpected circumstances, you may not know how to rebuild yourself or the relationship. And, if you and your partner have fallen out of harmony and into a routine of chronic criticism or minimal interactions, you may be close to giving up, questioning if reigniting the spark in your relationship is even feasible.
All Couples Struggle
If you, like a lot of people, feel stuck in your relationship, you are not alone. It’s possible that you and your partner have been stuck in the conflict zone for a long time, and healing the discord feels like an unmanageable task. Because relationship problems are often difficult to discuss with friends and family, who all expectations of what you “should” do, most people find that speaking with a therapist is remarkably helpful. Much like you might see a financial planner to reach your financial goals or a personal trainer to get in shape, therapy can provide you with practical guidance that allows you to start breaking ineffective patterns and cultivate lasting solutions.
Couples Counseling Can Help You And Your Partner Pave a Positive Path Forward
Relationship therapy provides a warm, humane, hospitable environment for you and your spouse, partner or partners to each express yourselves openly and honestly and process the concerns that are driving your disconnection or discord. Outside the stressors of everyday life, you can learn and practice strategies that can help you understand yourself and your partner(s) on a deeper, more connected and compassionate level. The more you learn about each other, the easier it becomes to openly share your emotions and get your needs met. Although in therapy we will carefully tease apart the patterns you and your partner(s) have established, couples therapy isn’t just about focusing on what’s not working in your relationship. I can also help you identify your strengths and actively build upon them.
During our sessions together, we will focus on improving communication in relationships. Together, and with compassion, we can clarify the direction you want your relationship to go, set benchmarks and effectively work toward your goals. You will come to learn what it takes for your relationship to thrive. There is a growing body of research on how people succeed in long-term relationships, and some of this may surprise you. There are a variety of approaches that may work for you and your partner(s), and I will encourage your feedback throughout the process. Together, we create a custom plan of action that’s in-line with your unique needs.
I am a highly trained couples and sex therapist committed to collaborating with you and your partner(s) as a team, focusing on the needs and concerns of each individual while encouraging mutual openness and honesty in a safe, non-judgmental environment. I unconditionally support LGBTQ+, non-traditional or heterosexual relationships, and I deeply honor and respect any cultural, religious or spiritual values that may help define your orientation and expression. Together, we will explore the dynamics of your relationship and practice constructive ways for you to disagree and resolve conflicts in a manner that supports each individual and the relationship as a unit.
You may still have questions and concerns about marriage therapy…
Ours is not a typical relationship. Can you work with us?
Since I started practicing relationship counseling here New York City, countless people have come to me after feeling misunderstood, criticized or judged by other professionals. Whether you are LGBTQ+, questioning your sexuality or gender orientation, are part of an Orthodox religious community, arranged marriage or are in an intercultural or interracial relationship, you deserve to work with someone who accepts you. The atmosphere I seek to provide is unpretentious and non-judgmental. I believe good therapy provides a space for all to express and process struggles.
While I am certainly not an expert on your unique experience, I have educated myself and seek ongoing training on a wide variety of relationship structures and practices. If you don't think I'm the best person to guide and heal your relationship problems, I'll help you find someone who is.
My partner is very articulate. They usually manage to get people on their side. How will I know you'll treat me fairly?
I work very hard to be "fair if not neutral," meaning, while I won’t take sides, I will make recommendations based on what I see happening within your dynamic.
My partner has been cheating on me. Is there any hope for us?
If you both are committed and willing to do the work, there is hope. Although your friends or family may be telling you to leave, only you and your partner can decide the fate of your relationship.
Infidelity is more common than you think. Statistics suggest that roughly half of long-term couples in the US will experience infidelity at some point, and three-quarters of them stay together.
In time and with effective treatment, it’s possible to restore trust and reinvigorate your relationship. Believe it or not, life after infidelity can be better than before.
We have been to three marriage counselors already. You're our last hope. How will this time be different?
Unsuccessful marriage counseling can be discouraging and leave you feeling skeptical about the process and desperate. While I wish we had been able to work together sooner, I will do my best to find out what wasn’t working before and implement a new positive direction.
My practice is different because I focus on these three things:
1. Clearly identifying your desired outcome.
2. Developing concrete skills to achieve your unique goals.
3. Practicing ways to remain calm enough use those skills.
I’ve helped countless people who have tried couples therapy before succeed. With the right blend of support and encouragement, it’s possible to move forward into a deeply satisfying partnership.
Reignite The Spark In Your PartnershiP
If you have additional questions about relationship or intimacy counseling or my practice located in New York, New York, call 1-929-484-0700, email gracie@sexrelationshipfamilytherapynyc.com or schedule an appointment. You can also read and subscribe to my blog on relationship help.
Clients say:
"Our dynamic has been transformed by our time with you. I can't tell you how many times we've been able to turn a conversation around by using the tools we learned in our sessions with you...and it's not just our lives that have been changed - by helping us to treat each other better, you've also helped us to be better parents, which is just about the greatest gift I can think of."
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"Thank for your excellent, excellent work. You have helped us in so many ways, and your help impacts not just our marriage, but our kids, family, work, friends - literally everything we touch. After having met with three therapists before finding you, I am still amazed at the skill and precision with which you got right to helping us; your methods and approach are just exactly what we needed."
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"You have helped us learn the tools to get us past our stubborn ways to come up with a solution. I know that we got to this point in our relationship by working with you. I want to thank you very much. I am so glad that we met you and that we stuck it out through the good and bad times. "
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