Couples Therapy

Why do we need couples therapy?

Most romantic partnerships start off on a high note – you had that “spark,” those feelings of deep trust and intimacy, and hope for a bright future together.

And yet, many couples struggle, drift apart, and experience a loss in connection with one another. Often, these issues are rooted in major relational stressors, such as:

Financial stressors
Major life decisions
Experiences of abuse (past or present)
Family pressures
Health problems
Sex and intimacy
Differences in religious or political beliefs
Frequent fighting or arguing
Difficulty with childrearing
Marriage problems or separation and divorce

Do you and your partner seem to be constantly arguing or fighting? Have either of you lost enjoyment and intimacy in the relationship? Do you have issues with communication as a couple?

We are here for you!

Key Insights Counseling offers couples counseling (also called couples therapy) services because we believe that every relationship is worth improving. We serve couples from all over the area – Rohnert Park, Cotati, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, Penngrove, Petaluma, and more. If you would like to sign up for services or learn more about how Key Insights can help, contact us today! To learn more about how couples counseling can help, read on!

How will couples counseling help?

Every healthy relationship is founded on three key elements:

Trust is all about how much you can rely on your partner. This includes so many aspects of relationship, such as sexual fidelity, safety, dependability, and vulnerability. Often, relationships will experience a breach in trust, such as an affair or going back on a promise. Issues with trust can disrupt the relational system, thereby affecting multiple other aspects of the relationship.

Intimacy is not just about sex or physical touch – it’s all about connection. Emotional intimacy plays just as much of a role as what goes on in the bedroom. Sometimes, changes in intimacy can send signals to one’s partner that something is wrong, that they do not feel as attractive or wanted. Couples who experience a loss in intimacy often struggle with feeling close and connected with one another, but counseling

Commitment is all about dedication to the relationship. One or both partners may have fears about moving forward with major life decisions, such as marriage. This can create feelings of instability and anxiety in the relationship. When one or both partners struggle with commitment, feelings of trust and intimacy can also quickly fade.

Trust, intimacy, and commitment are absolutely critical for a relationship to thrive and be long lasting – but none of these can happen without secure functioning.

This is why therapy for couples is so incredibly effective. A counselor for couples identify problematic patterns of communication and miscommunication and help you work better together as a team. Once your ability to communicate your needs and share openly with one another, you can begin to build stronger experiences of trust, intimacy, and commitment.

If you and your partner are tired of struggling and ready to make things better – let us help. Here at Key Insights Counseling, we believe that your relationship deserves a second chance. Contact us today to sign up for your first session or learn more about what we do.

What does couples therapy look like at Key Insights Counseling?

We are here for (both of) you!

Our team of couples’ counselors offer a wide range of services to help meet your needs effectively and efficiently. Our counseling services are designed to incorporate the latest research while offering strategic, compassionate and solution-focused therapy for couples and marriage problems.

The initial session is called the “intake interview,” which involves a thorough review of your relationship history and current situation. This allows us to accurately pinpoint the problem and collaborate on a plan moving forward. From there, we meet for regular couples counseling sessions – which is where the real work begins.

Key Insights Counseling utilizes the Stan Tatkin’s model of PACT (Psychosocial Approach to Couples Therapy) in our approach to supporting couples through therapy. This means we tend to focus on:

Attachment and bonding: PACT emphasizes the significance of attachment bonds in adult relationships. It explores how early attachment patterns influence current relationship dynamics, behaviors, and responses.
The couple as a unit: PACT views the couple as a single entity, focusing on the interactions and dynamics between partners rather than solely on individual issues. It stresses the importance of co-regulation and mutual influence within the relationship.
Neuroscience and arousal regulation: Understanding the neurobiological aspects of relationships is central to PACT. It looks at how partners regulate each other's arousal levels and emotional states, emphasizing the need for effective arousal regulation for healthy interaction.
The concept of "secure-functioning": PACT aims to create a secure-functioning relationship where both partners feel safe, valued, and respected. This involves prioritizing each other's well-being and creating a secure emotional base within the relationship.
The "couple bubble": Similar to the secure-functioning concept, the "couple bubble" refers to an emotional safe space that partners create and maintain together. It acts as a protective shield against external stressors and conflicts.
Non-verbal communication and body language: PACT focuses on non-verbal cues and body language as essential elements in communication between partners. It encourages partners to become more attuned to each other's non-verbal signals for better understanding.
The therapist's role: Therapists practicing PACT take an active and engaged role in sessions, often intervening in real-time to address relational dynamics as they unfold. They help couples recognize and understand their patterns of interaction.
Experiential learning and interventions: PACT therapy sessions often involve experiential exercises and interventions. These can include role-playing, guided interactions, and in-the-moment demonstrations to help couples practice new ways of relating.
Conflict resolution and repair: PACT views conflict as an opportunity for growth and emphasizes the importance of repairing ruptures in the relationship. It focuses on de-escalating conflicts and teaching couples effective ways to resolve disagreements.
Continual growth and maintenance: Finally, PACT promotes the idea that relationships require ongoing effort, learning, and growth. It encourages couples to continually invest in their relationship and deepen their connection over time.

Our practice is called “Key Insights” for a reason.

We believe in those incredible “aha” moments, those breakthrough realizations where children, teens, adults, and families discover the key to unlocking success. Our goal is, no matter what your struggle might be, to help you find those key insights and move forward with a life worth living. We help clients learn to have difficult conversations by having difficult conversations with them. We have high expectations for the people we work with, and we provide ample support in our efforts to drive them closer to their goals.

Do not wait and hope for things to get better on their own – contact us today to begin your journey towards wellness.

Interested? Let’s Connect!

Interested in hearing more about our practice? Want to learn more about how we can help? We would love to hear from you. Contact us to begin strengthening your relationship with couples therapy today.

Our office is located at 2 Padre Pkwy, Suite 302A in Rohnert Park. We are easy to get to and we offer lots of parking. We are also conveniently located near public transportation, shopping, and easy freeway access. Our office atmosphere is relaxed, comfy, and elegant with the goal of creating a space where true healing can happen.