Marin Couples Counseling and Therapy ~ San Rafael, Marin County

I provide a variety of couples counseling services San Rafael, Marin County. If you're seeking marriage counseling - or any kind of couples or relationship counseling - you're likely finding there's something "not working" between you and your partner. Perhaps you have grown apart - or there has been conflict or infidelity. Maybe the communication has deteriorated in your relationship or marriage, leading to a build up of resentment and increase distance between the two of you.

I have found that the most successful marriage have a strong relationship foundation and a high level of emotional safety. I strive to help couples increase the emotional safety in their relationships to strengthen their relationship foundation. One of the most important areas I address is the quality of your communication. A relationship needs good communication like a plant needs water. I will look for negative cycles occurring in the relationship - and work towards disrupting them.

Part of my couples counseling approach also involves assessing what you and your partner learned about relationships from your parents or past partners. Did each of you have loving, supportive role models? Are you able to be open and vulnerable to each other in your relationship - or are there emotional blocks to intimacy and trust?

My therapy approach weaves together concepts from attachment and imago theories – as well as the research of John Gottman.

Possible goals to be attained in couples counseling:

Learn healthy communication skills and conflict de-escalation techniques

Identify and disrupt negative cycles occurring in the relationship

Increase emotional safety in the relationship

Explore and work through built up resentments

Heal from partner infidelity

Increase relationship intimacy

Clarify individual and relationship goals

Explore family of origin influences

Strengthen relationship foundation

*Gay / lesbian couples are welcome - I have experience in the additional issues that come up in these relationships.

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See my relationship articles in The Toolbox at LisaKiftTherapy.com, a resource for emotional and relationship health.

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Want another option? See my couples workbook The Marriage Refresher Course for Couples for those wanting to get closer to their spouses again. This e-workbook provides a cost effective alternative to face-to-face counseling but is not appropriate for marriages facing high levels of distress and conflict.

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Learn about some of my other Marin couples counseling services:

Couples Communication

Resentment

Emotional Safety

Infidelity

Healthy Boundaries

Premarital Education