Couples can make tremendous progress by finding a therapist or co-therapy team near them, geographically. And in this case, they can greatly benefit from traditional once-a-week therapy.
At Marriage Therapy Institute, for those we work with locally, we typically develop an intensive ten sessions that are very “directive.” What this means is that we are focused on specific goals that include “homework” in between sessions in which the couple spends a minimum of three hours alone together.
Depending on the couple, goals may include:
Sometimes, we might choose to extend the process for a second set of ten sessions, this is where customized, couple-specific care comes into play. That said, many couples can achieve their desired goals in a ten-session, somewhat time-limited format.
Often roadblocks to relational intimacy involve “unfinished business” from an individual’s past, including childhood traumas, neglect, or attachment difficulties with early caretakers. In other individuals, pain from prior relationships or unresolved grief can interfere with intimacy. We tend to work with one individual’s block at a time, with the partner present for this work in the same room. This enables the couple to discuss the issues in-between sessions, thereby becoming more intimate and ensuring that the couple’s intimacy is of paramount importance.
The other unique aspect of the approach at Marriage Therapy Institute is that we engage our clients with a male/female co-therapy team. Each individual then has their own assigned therapist who focuses on their contributions to the relational distress and the solutions, thereby avoiding biases that can develop when one therapist is managing the processes for both sides.
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