Couples and Family Therapy

“Men marry women with the hope they will never change.
Women marry men with the hope they will change.
Invariable they are both disappointed.”
– Albert Einstein

Along the way, every couple experiences challenges and conflict in their relationship. I believe that every couple has a grain of sand in their relationship, which although annoying, is workable and they can self-repair.  When this grain of sand becomes a pebble, they have to stop and remove the pebble. When the pebble becomes a rock, it is more difficult to move and they may need help, but when the rock becomes a boulder then it is harder to do alone, and will need the help of someone who understands. Couples seek therapy for many reasons, often when the struggle creates distress they cannot resolve themselves. The same old tape keeps playing and they cannot move on. Couples also arrive at therapy when they have become disengaged from one another, and the relationship no longer feels like it once did. They often become numb to the relationship.

Through the intervention of Integrated Behavioral ,Couples Therapy (IBCT), a couple is able to see their differences and look at changing how they see their partner, rather than waiting for their partner to change. IBCT is one of the leading theories in the world for couple’s therapy and is used by the Veterans Administration (VA) to train their VA psychologists. I help couples develop a better understanding of the pattern of interaction, and the theme that plays out in the relationship. This theme is the theme that polarizes the couple and allows them to continue the conflict.

IBCT is empirically researched and shows one of the highest success rates among all couples theories.

I am a certified IBCT therapist and I have helped many couples repair and stay in their marriages. In addition, to working with couples with this intervention, I present at Universities around the country, and train other clinicians in IBCT. I also present at conferences on this therapy and have developed a workshop for couples.

“A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.” – Dave Meurer