Couples therapy (also known as conjoint therapy) is designed for couples who are dating, engaged, married or separated.  The goal is to assist in processing and resolving their differences, expectations and difficulties experienced in their relationship.

In couples therapy, the goal is to assist you and your partner identify the conflict issues within your relationship, decide what changes are needed in the relationship and in the behavior of each partner.  The ultimate goal is for both to feel satisfied, safe and trustworthy.

Couples therapy focuses on the problems existing in the relationship between two people.   But, these relationship problems always involve individual symptoms and problems, that fuels relationship conflicts.  For example, if you are constantly arguing with your spouse, chances are one of you struggles with anxiety, anger or depression (or all three).

These stressors may be ways of interacting within the relationship, or they may be individual changes related to personal issues.  Couples therapy involves learning how to communicate more effectively, and how to listen more closely while building grace towards one another.

Avalon also offers a test that evaluates the relationship strenghts and areas needing improvement. The ENRICH test comes from the Univesity of Minnesota, Family Studies Program