Couples Therapy is the Right Choice
The treatment path in couples therapy is determined after listening and understanding the dynamic between the individuals and the issues they are experiencing.
Author: <span>Tevis Steere</span>
Couples/Marriage Therapy
Couples begin to develop a relational dynamic between them after living together for some time. I often see young couples one to three years after marriage or living together under the same roof. For better or for worse a dynamic begins to occur in relation to how we speak to each other. Certain expectations and assumptions of how and where the conversation is going begin to emerge. This predictability can be beneficial and empathetic to those we care for and can help understanding within a relationship occur.
Unfortunately the same expectations and assumptions can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Judgement and criticism can often be received without intent and lead to a negative scripted outcome between two individuals. It can begin to feel like basic communication without conflict is not possible. Countless times couples will come into my office with this description of their relationship feeling misunderstood and alienated from one another. These feelings are real and anyone in a relationship has felt this way at one time or another!
When meeting with these couples I first commend them for their awareness and decision to seek help to change the negative scripted dynamic beginning to emerge. We identify what part of their script is beneficial as well as how they fall into the negative outcomes. It is essential to realize that this is a dynamic between two individuals. Each person has brought themselves to the relationship and must take responsibility. Taking responsibility and not blaming results in change.
Couples have often said they come away with “real tools” after seeing me for the first time. I certainly feel that way too! Several couples have entered Couples Group Therapy and helped create and maintain positive change in their lives. Call today to schedule an appointment or for a free phone consultation.
Tevis Steere, LCSW Steere Family Therapy 502-295-5008
Children and Divorce
Working through differences and saving a marriage is not always in the best interest of a family. Sometimes divorce is the answer and the best alternative for all family members. Not only is this realization difficult for husband and wife to achieve but their children are often left with uncertainties and misunderstandings. Helping children gain awareness of what is occurring in the family and what it means in regards to the current and future situation for them individually and for the family is essential to their well-being.
Children may exhibit resistance to change and their experience of uncertainties in many ways. Anger and anxiety can be expressed behaviorally in home or at school at times. Achieving an understanding and acceptance of how a child feels can often help them work through their emotions and change behaviors immediately. Everyone’s feelings matter and deserve to be acknowledged and understood.
Having parents sit down with their children and a professional can often provide some security and foundation immediately during the first session. Having both parents in attendance let the children know although arrangements will be different they are still a family parented and loved as well as supported by both mother and father. The children’s well-being is often the most sensitive and significant element of the process requiring nurturance and guidance to work through these difficult times. With the professional help these young individuals can come through with a sense of resiliency and confidence to work through other challenges the may face in their lifetime!
Children and Divorce
Working through differences and saving a marriage is not always in the best interest of a family. Sometimes divorce is the answer and the best alternative for all family members. Not only is this realization difficult for husband and wife to achieve but their children are often left with uncertainties and misunderstandings. Helping children gain awareness of what is occurring in the family and what it means in regards to the current and future situation for them individually and for the family is essential to their well-being.
Children may exhibit resistance to change and their experience of uncertainties in many ways. Anger and anxiety can be expressed behaviorally in home or at school at times. Achieving an understanding and acceptance of how a child feels can often help them work through their emotions and change behaviors immediately. Everyone’s feelings matter and deserve to be acknowledged and understood.
Having parents sit down with their children and a professional can often provide some security and foundation immediately during the first session. Having both parents in attendance let the children know although arrangements will be different they are still a family parented and loved as well as supported by both mother and father. The children’s well-being is often the most sensitive and significant element of the process requiring nurturance and guidance to work through these difficult times. With the professional help these young individuals can come through with a sense of resiliency and confidence to work through other challenges the may face in their lifetime!
Ways to Help Your Children Develop Self Esteem and Confidence
Self-esteem and confidence are essential components in an individuals life towards independence and autonomy. What one deems as a affirming or a success is a lifelong endeavor, the foundation of it needs to be established in early childhood. Building self-esteem will allow the child to deal with difficult situations that they will encounter during their lifetime. Since parents have a major influence on us it is important for them to support and guide children in the navigation of the obstacles they will encounter. Praise, reassurance, curious question asking as well as empathy are vital to the development of confidence and self-esteem as well as coping skills.
Anxiety
Anxiety is something that exists in everyone’s life. An anxiety response is appropriate to external circumstances whether joyful or painful. When anxiety reaches the stage where it overwhelms you mentally and physically, and affects your normal routine of life psychotherapy is essential to an individual’s well being. Read more
Looking for Help is Sign of Strength
Individual treatment is often termed as psychotherapy, and is meant to help people with their emotional issues, which can range in severity or intensity. The main aim of this form of therapy is to change the quality of life by defining the path of life clearly, and bringing in more clarity. Whether it is issues repressed from childhood that you are facing, or current life stressors due to divorce, failure or loss of a loved one, a professional psychotherapists can help you revive your mental health through the therapeutic process.
How to Get a Good Nights Sleep?
In today’s competitive world, sleep is sometimes considered more of a luxury than a necessity. Sleep is important for the well-being of an individually both emotionally and physically. Insufficient sleep or no sleep has long lasting health and psychological effects. If you have been experiencing insomnia, it may be due to a number of factors, including stress, anxiety or depression as well as numerous medically issues. In order to address your sleep problem, it can be beneficial to meet with a myriad of professionals including a psychotherapist. A mental health professional can help you change your behavior and manage feelings and emotions that may interfere with your sleep.
Transition to Adulthood-Emerging Adults
There are many transitions in life and none are likely more difficult than the one leaving high school and moving towards making independent choices regarding education and occupation. There are countless messages on what course of actions towards Adulthood one “should” take from parents and society as well as culture and religion. Choosing your own path with the trusting influences of others can be stressful, isolating and even depressing! Adding the additional stress of moving away from home as well as the friends and dependable routines and environment you have known to trust can be overwhelming. Today’s socioeconomic environment as well as the social media phenomena has cultivated even higher expectations for today’s educational and occupational demands.
In my practice as a Family Therapist I have been meeting with many young adults and their parents struggling with this transition. If you or you are the parent of a young adult experiencing these challenges you are not alone. Call me to further discuss how I can be of assistance to you and your family!
502-295-5008
Mass Homicidal and Suicidal Shootings…..The Individual, Familial, Communal, and Global Responsibility of All of Us!
Why does it keep happening? We cannot turn a blind eye. While we may not able to stop these awful events altogether, reaching out and supporting those around us can be our first step, and the way we can all contribute to reducing these senseless tragedies.
Mental health is the responsibility of everyone at the individual, familial, communal, and global levels. If you know someone that is suffering from a tragic event or someone that has exhibited a sudden change in behavior or mood, or simply not being themselves, reach out to them.
As a friend, a brother, a daughter, a mother, or colleague the simple gesture of saying something goes a long way! If you do not get a response contact the next closest person you know to them. Perhaps a family member or someone in the community maybe next door. Reinforcing a sense of family and community will ensure fewer people fall through the cracks. I believe on a communal and global level if everyone practiced reaching out when something felt a little off about a certain person this would have a dramatic impact of the reduction of meaningless acts of homicide and suicide.
Social media is a platform that is overly cluttered with meaningless dramatic gestures that impede the real behaviors or indicators of troubled individuals. The true indicators are exhibited in a change from the daily behavior of the individual. This change can be witnessed by those that interact with this person routinely in the family as well as the community. Especially those closest to them.
If you are that individual that is suffering I believe it is imperative for you to reach out to a trusted person. If you feel there is no one in you family, friends or community, then access a professional at the community level or online. These services are free in the link below.
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