Most people long for intimacy, but not everyone finds it — even in marriage. That’s because many couples expect it just to happen the moment they say “I do.” However, intimacy, like anything in life that’s truly great, requires commitment, patience and a willingness to work. If you and your spouse long to know each other, and feel deeply known, the marriage enrichment program at Taylor Counseling Group is a service you won’t want to pass up.
Unlike traditional couples counseling, marital enrichment focuses on growth and having the best marriage possible. Participating in marriage enrichment services doesn’t mean there’s a problem in your relationship. These sessions allow you to focus on your marriage, on intimacy and on true closeness with this other human being you’ve chosen to spend your life with.
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Book OnlineWho Needs Marriage Enrichment Services?
Marriage counseling is not something to be scared of. Yet, many couples fear seeking out professional services because they feel it will be telling the world there’s something wrong with their marriage. However, every marriage needs a little tune-up from time to time.
Life just seems to get busier and busier. Balancing life, work, the kids and your spouse is difficult. Ask yourself a few questions:
- Do you and your partner feel more like roommates than lovers?
- Do you feel your intimacy waning with each passing year?
- Do your kids, work, and the busyness of daily life take all your time and energy?
- Do you feel like you have little to no time or inclination for fun with your partner?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, marriage enrichment counseling could be the best thing for you and your spouse.
Topics Covered in Marriage Counseling
Marital enrichment counseling covers various topics, personalized to fit each couple’s situation. The therapists at Taylor Counseling Group have the background and skillset to address all marriage topics, ranging from finances to trust.
Sexual Intimacy
Sexual intimacy is one of the most common topics we address in couples therapy. With busy schedules, couples can sometimes find it challenging to connect with one another intimately. Or maybe one person in the couple isn’t on the same page as the other, causing dissatisfaction when intimate. Sex therapy provides a comfortable and encouraging space for couples to talk about their concerns with each other and a licensed professional.
Healthy Communication Skills
Communication is at the core of every successful relationship. Couples counseling can address current miscommunication practices and teach you new strategies to implement into your daily lives. We will discuss techniques such as active listening, “I” statements, empathy, healthy compromises and nonverbal cues. Whatever the main focus, we will also provide you with tips on how to use these every day — even starting when you leave the office.
Codependency Issues and Mental Loading
Codependency is when one side of the relationship entirely depends on the other for their emotional or psychological well-being. This can create a mental load for the person this falls on, often leading to emotional, physical and mental burnout on their end. We can help you guide the conversation behind your partner’s codependency, establishing ways you can both lean on each other for support equally.
Boundaries and Responsibilities
Consider your marriage responsibilities — does it feel like one person does more than the other? Do you feel overwhelmed by your current load? While there are the traditional — and often stereotypical — gender roles in a relationship, we encourage each couple to share responsibilities on what works for them. For example, if one person makes dinner, the other does the dishes. Learn how to delegate tasks and communicate every step of the way.
With responsibilities come boundaries that need to be drawn. You know what you are most comfortable with in terms of your physical abilities, but this also stems from emotional boundaries. We will help you and your partner set up healthy boundaries and goals to improve your home life.
Infidelity
Infidelity in a marriage is a challenge, but it can be overcome. With each individual’s participation, we will help create a safe environment to rebuild your marriage. We can help couples discover the root of why the affair happened, address the high emotions that come with it and learn ways to slowly gain trust with each other moving forward. We also encourage both of you to create support systems to hold you both accountable at this time.
While this can be one of the most significant hardships your marriage may face, the fact that you both are willing to mend the relationship by going to therapy is a huge step in the right direction.
Power Dynamics
Power dynamics are often evident in every marriage, whether you notice them or not. This can be one person being more dominant while the other is more submissive or can even relate to one distancing themselves while the other pursues. Regardless of the situation, power dynamics can be exhausting for a couple, especially with those dynamics that seem to be driving a wedge in your marriage.
Our therapists will help bring the challenging power dynamic to the surface, even if you may not have initially scheduled counseling for that reason. We can help you both recognize each other’s strengths and how they can contribute to the marriage — all while not overshadowing the other.
The Benefits of Marital Enrichment
When you participate in marital enrichment counseling at Taylor Counseling Group, our skilled therapists will take the time to teach you skills specific to improving the communication and intimacy of your marriage. Basic techniques like adaptability, problem-solving, stress management and conflict resolution will have a huge impact on how you relate to each other.
As you go through the marital enrichment process, you’ll experience incredible benefits, such as:
- Provides a safe space to address concerns
- Emphasizes the importance of love, commitment, friendship and the power of forgiveness
- Allows you to learn the difference between positive communication and negative communication
- Can set goals as a couple
- Supports the strength of your marriage so it can grow to its full potential
Meet With a Couples Counseling Therapist
Participating in marital enrichment shows a willingness to grow and change so that you can break the status quo and create something beautiful together. Schedule an appointment with Taylor Counseling Group to learn more about professional marriage therapy and enrichment in Austin, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio & throughout Central Texas.