Couples Counseling

When a marriage is struggling and the couple wants to try to find ways to heal, they traditionally look at couples counseling. Couples counseling is one of the most effective solutions we have to help two people communicate more effectively and learn to love each other more strongly, and so it is natural to want to use couples counseling when you find that your relationship is struggling. But many people find that the real solution…

Divorce can be a challenging and emotionally taxing experience for everyone involved, and typically occurs because couples are feeling very high emotions. Most of us also recognize that divorce can have a profound effect on children. But while we know this instinctually, we do not always recognize that there are ways that both partners can reduce this effect. At Long Island Counseling Services, we provide couples counseling for those in any state of a relationship,…

Marriages and relationships take work. If you ask any marriage specialist – or any happy couple – what the secret is for a successful marriage, they’re going to tell you “communication.” It’s an almost cliché answer, but it is true that communication is how relationships work. What is not true is the idea that communication is the ability or willingness to talk. Many people think that, when a person recommends communication, it means that they…

Couples counseling and marriage therapy are typically seen as “last resorts.” Many people believe, incorrectly, that couples therapy is only for those that are on the brink of divorce, or that if a partner suggests couples counseling, it means that there are serious threats to their marriage. It is true that marriage counseling can be an outstanding way to address a struggling relationship. But the goals of couples therapy – as well as the situations…

Every day, multiple times a day, we request something from our partner. It may be a bit of attention, love, intimacy, support, or even just time. But during the day, sometimes dozens of times a day, we have these small or big requests that we make in order to maintain and grow our connection with our partner. But how our partner responds to these bids can have a substantial affect on our happiness levels and…

There’s a popular saying that “marriage is hard” and “marriage takes work.” Both of those sayings are true, but they also sometimes hide something about marriage that many couples struggle with: that sometimes, it’s not that there are problems in your marriage, but rather that you haven’t yet developed the skills as a couple to communicate those problems in ways that are emotionally and psychologically healthy. Most couples only seek out a marriage therapist on…

There are many things that make a relationship strong. There are shared memories. There is great conversation. There are mutual goals. There are attractions that we have that our partners match. But even successful couples have areas of their marriage or relationship that they envision improving, and one example is a couple’s sex and intimacy. Trained couples counselors are here to support your ability to find that intimacy in a relationship. Using both relationship and…

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. Many people, all over Long Island, are going to be celebrating with their romantic partners by going out to dinner, planning a romantic evening, or just staying at home and spending some much needed quality time together. But Valentine’s Day isn’t without its complications. For many, it is a day of intense emotion. For some people, it is a date that triggers traumas, or reminds people of feelings they wish they…

Most people have a general familiarity with couples counseling. They see couples counseling as two people, meeting in a room with a therapist, talking about their problems and focusing on communication and trust. They see it as this type of free-flowing conversation, with the therapist acting as a mediator to help them better understand each other.   But what many people do not know is that couples therapy is actually extensively researched and structured. While…

If your relationship runs into challenges, it is helpful to speak to someone that is trained to address those challenges. On Long Island, that means speaking with a therapist that has experience working with all different types of couples and partnerships, supporting both clients, with knowledge in how to help resolve conflict, build trust, and improve communication. Yet, for couples that are seeking out relationship help, it’s not uncommon to run into many different terms…