Marriage Counselors
serving buffalo, TONAWANDA, ORCHARD PARK, & HAMBURG, NY

A marriage is meant to be a lifetime commitment to your other half; however, if there is a lack of communication, a good amount of arguing, or unresolved issues that seem to keep finding their way back into your lives, you may wish to seek professional help. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking marital counseling. You have not failed as a husband or a wife – in fact, you’ve done the exact opposite.

Let us help you take the first step toward improving your relationship with your spouse. Our marital counseling professionals are here to help you communicate better, appreciate one another, and improve your emotional health and well-being.

PREPARING FOR MARriage COUNSELING

If you and your spouse are considering marriage counseling but are not sure what to expect, we have some tips for you to feel more ready before your first appointment.

Make Sure You Are Both Ready and Motivated

Therapy only works if both parties are ready to try it and are willing to put in the work. If one partner is resentful or isn't really looking to put in the honest effort, therapy won't help. There is no shame in not being ready, so it's important to time your visits correctly.

Consider Your Goals

Before your first therapy appointment, reflect on what your goals for therapy are. What is your ultimate goal for yourself, your spouse, or the two of you as a couple? Do you have any short-term hopes? Discussing shared goals with your partner can also help get you on the same page and help you approach this process as a team.

Be Ready to Get Personal

An experienced, science-based therapist will focus on assessment and ask questions about your histories, attachment styles, and family backgrounds. Understanding how you grew up will tell us a great deal about how you relate to others. From there, we will discuss aspects of your relationship - this might get personal, and you should expect to take some emotional risks at some point during the therapy process. It doesn't have to happen right away, or until you feel a bit more comfortable, but therapy is rarely successful without some emotional work.

Accept the Challenge

Part of marriage counseling is acknowledging that you want to make a change. This will involve putting aside comfortable bad habits, spending money, and investing time in the process. You cannot realistically expect to only change your partner - you will have to make some adjustments yourself. It can be risky, inconvenient and difficult to do this, but if you embrace the work, you can come out the other side with a better relationship.