In my first session with couples, I typically ask them what their goals are for couples counseling—what they want to accomplish as a result of...
31.052023May 22, 2023
Skeptics Welcome
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Affairs, Communication, Control
On occasion, I get spouses who question how useful couples counseling is going to be. I never try to convince them differently, but I am...
24.052023May 22, 2023
Paradigm Shift
James and Dawn were in a bad place. They had made progress in couples counseling, but then had a setback that they never recovered from....
17.052023March 28, 2023
Old Habits Die Hard
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Escalation, Name-Calling, Steamrolling
Angelo and Melissa had a troubled relationship. By the time they started couples counseling, Melissa had moved out and started divorce proceedings. When they talked...
10.052023March 28, 2023
Foundational Issues
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Finances, Foundation, Spending, Themes
Most couples start couples counseling, wanting to talk about their last fight or blowout, but Patrick said he didn’t want to do that. He wanted...
03.052023March 28, 2023
Tribute
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Approach, Parenting
Rick and Cindy had a really difficult teenager. Brendan was constantly challenging them. He pushed the limits regularly. The couple had very different ways of...
26.042023March 28, 2023
Parenting the Parent
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Approach, Parenting
Andrea and Mark had two rambunctious young boys, and Andrea really struggled with them. They rarely listened to her, and she moved between being stressed...
19.042023March 28, 2023
Safe Haven
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Abuse, Aggressiveness, Intimacy, Safety, Trust
In our first couples counseling session, Ed shared that he needs to be physically intimate with his wife, but Michelle disclosed that she doesn’t feel...
12.042023March 28, 2023
Revamping
By Dr. Richard ReinIn Couples Therapy, Marriage Counseling, Relationship CounselingTags Communication, Drinking
Alex and Paige have been married for over three decades and were moving into a new phase with adult children and Alex’s early retirement. They...
05.042023March 28, 2023
Complain Well
Last week I had a session in which I was routinely interrupting the husband. Typically when couples criticize each other in couples counseling, I intervene....