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Marriage Counseling in Bethesda, MD

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It’s no secret that Bethesda is one of the best places in the U.S. to call home. With a high education rate, below-average unemployment rates, low crime rates and a very high median income, it’s no wonder this suburb of Washington, D.C. regularly finds itself on various lists for best places to live. And since over half of its roughly 60,000 residents are married, Bethesda clearly is a great place for married couples to settle down.

What makes Bethesda a great place to live for married couples, specifically? It’s hard to definitively find one reason, but at Well Marriage Center, we’d like to believe a part of their success is because they have access to a lot of high-quality therapy. That’s right: therapy isn’t just for couples that are struggling! Therapy is something everyone should do—young or old, married or single, in Bethesda or anywhere. And when it comes to marriage counseling specifically, Well Marriage provides the best therapy for Bethesda, MD residents and beyond.

If you’re looking to improve relationship communication, strengthen your bond with your partner, resolve conflict, or simply become a better partner yourself, marriage counseling (or couples therapy!) is for you. And if you’re seeking marriage counseling in the Washington, D.C. area, Well Marriage is here. Read about how therapists help couples build their best marriages, and why couples counseling is worth it no matter what kind of relationship you have.

Finding a Therapist in Bethesda, MD

Truthfully, choosing a therapist is a lot like choosing a partner to date: you need to…

  • Know what you’re looking for in marriage counseling.
  • Find therapists who fit those criteria.
  • Have a session with those therapists to see how they work.

It’s important to note that while therapy is a scientific field, it’s also an emotional practice, so certification isn’t the only quality that makes a good fit. Of course, your ideal marriage therapist needs to be accredited. But a therapist also needs to be able to empathize with you and your partner, and work with you in a way that brings out the best in your marriage.

To dive deeper, let’s look at some commonly-asked questions about how to find a therapist:

What type of counselor is best for marriage?

While there are many types of counselors out there, there’s one thing you should always look for in a marriage counselor: certification. The state of Maryland recognizes two types of certification for marriage and family therapists (MFTs): Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist (LGMFT), and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Both certifications require passing an exam, continued education, and thousands of hours of prior experience—much of which is supervised. 

When you work with a licensed MFT, you can be sure you’re getting someone who is highly qualified, very educated, and has a lot of experience with a wide range of couples. That’s exactly the kind of therapist you want to work with when improving your marriage, and those are the kinds of therapists we provide at Well Marriage!

What is the most effective type of couples therapy?

Ultimately, this is going to depend on the couple, but various techniques in couples counseling have proven effective. According to Psychology Today, emotionally focused therapy (EFT) is by far the most effective, with 90% of couples significantly improving their relationship and almost 75% no longer fitting the criteria for “relationship distress.” EFT centers emotions and emotional attachment as the core of a healthy relationship, and aims to help couples build emotional connection as well as understanding of their own individual emotions.

Again, though, just because something works “by the numbers” does not necessarily mean it’s the best solution for your marriage. Every relationship is different, and there are a variety of techniques that could prove just as effective—or even more effective—than EFT. The best couples counselors will be familiar with multiple techniques, including EFT, the Gottman Method, Imago Therapy, and many others. That’s exactly what our team at Well Marriage provides, and why we believe our therapists are the best therapists in the Bethesda metro area. In addition to understanding various therapy techniques, we take a strength-based approach to counseling, helping couples build off the great qualities they already share.

Should married couples see the same therapist?

It’s a good idea for them to do so! A therapist can—and often will—have sessions where both partners are present and with each individual partner. Many times, the struggles couples face together stem from interpersonal issues each person brings to the relationship. When a marriage therapist works with couples in both settings, they gain a better contextual understanding of the marriage and everything that plays into it.

Build the Marriage of Your Dreams With Us

Ready to see how wonderful your marriage or relationship can be? Do you live in the Bethesda, MD metro area? Reach out to us at the Well Marriage Center! We believe that no matter what struggles a couple may face, if they’re willing to work together, couples therapy can create a wonderful, fulfilling relationship that stands the test of time. Whether you want to improve communication, work through a difficult time, or simply make your marriage better, we can help you do that—and more. Every relationship can benefit from therapy, and with Well Marriage, those benefits could be better than you ever imagined.

If you’d like to learn more about how marriage therapy works, please reach out to our intake coordinator Melinda to schedule an appointment!

 

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Marriage Counseling in Charlotte, NC

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Scenario: You and your loved one are sauntering down the streets of Charlotte, NC and you happen to spot that beautiful restaurant you’ve yet to go to — like Bernardin’s at Ratcliffe. As you walk past the entrance and its undeniable romantic ambience, the question you’ve pondered before lingers. Why haven’t you gone yet? Instead of vocalizing this query to your partner, you continue to walk past the eatery and wonder what could have been, and resent that you rarely speak up.

This is just a small example of a much bigger problem: according to HuffPost, relationship communication is the #1 top contender that many couples struggle to master and nearly always leads to separation. Far too many partnerships end simply due to failure to productively communicate with one another. If you feel communicating with your partner is met with resistance, take a moment to read about the couples counseling Charlotte, NC has to offer, like ours at Well Marriage. 

Whatever reason you’re now searching for “Marriage counseling near me,” know there is hope! When two people are both willing to put in the work with a skilled relationship therapist, success rates are very high!  So even though divorce rates in Charlotte are among the highest in the country, we’re here to offer a better solution – and not only for communication issues, because our strengths-based model of therapy is built to help all relationship problems. We offer data-backed, modern therapy that helps with things like loss of love, trust, intimacy, and sex, as well as conflict management, individual support, and working through past traumas.

Now, let’s walk along the path to patching up your partnership!

How Successful Is Couples Therapy in Charlotte?

The success that comes from couples therapy understandably depends on you and your partner’s willingness and dedication to restoring the relationship. According to Psychology Today, couples therapy became 75% effective by 2017 and continues to climb.

There are often cases where a couple will refuse to address the issues in their partnership until things have fallen apart in a way that seems far too challenging to build back up without guidance. In any case, Well Marriage understands the resistance that comes with speaking up, so it’s important not to lose hope even if you feel it may be too late. Our therapists are experts at working with tough relationship issues.

What Is The Difference Between Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling?

Marital status is the only difference between marriage counseling and couples therapy, but nearly all other factors are identical. The primary goal of marriage counseling is to improve the overall relationship between married partners. 

Couples therapy, on the other hand, is a bit broader as it could easily include married and unmarried couples hoping to mend rough patches in their partnership or overcome longstanding issues. Identifying the sources of conflict in specific areas of a couple’s relationship and working toward solutions is the main goal for couples therapy. 

However, the two practices both aim to fix similar relationship-driven predicaments. This process often includes:

  • Addressing the conflict(s) and issues
  • Improving overall communication
  • Enhancing intimacy (both physically and emotionally)
  • Increasing the satisfaction of everyone in the relationship
  • Strengthening the bond

Having the ability to develop relationship habits that are healthier and more sustainable between you and your partner does not always come naturally. Marriage counseling and couples therapy is a great way to get started and it’s incredibly valuable, but often overlooked until things get extremely rocky. However, even when couples feel it may be too late, our therapists have focused their careers on relationship issues and can help anyone willing to put in the work deep therapy requires. 

We often refer to our work as “relational therapy” because our model helps married, unmarried, and non-traditional couples as well as families and individuals wanting to work through any issues around relationships that they may experience. 

Strengths-Based Couples Counseling

Well Marriage works to serve couples regardless of their legal relationship status with the help of strengths-based counseling. Strengths-based marriage counseling is a strategy used to pinpoint and highlight the strengths in a couple’s partnership, and we don’t suggest separation unless that is what both parties want. We aim to get individuals working as a team before we tackle the tough stuff.

Oftentimes in couples therapy, relationship specialists might start things off with the timeworn question—what seems to be the problem? Starting off your partnership rehabilitation process by laying out everything that isn’t working can cause tensions to rise, making it difficult to see that light at the end of the tunnel.

When you begin your journey to a mended romance, it might be worth it to focus on the things that are going right before you dive deeper into the things that are going left. We often start by asking things like, “what made you fall in love in the first place?”

How Much Does Therapy Cost Near Charlotte NC?

The cost of counseling in Charlotte NC can range anywhere between $200 and $500 monthly depending on the number and frequency of sessions, the issues being addressed, and the presence of insurance. Many couples find this an affordable alternative to the very real emotional and financial costs of separation – and we agree! Investing in your relationship has cascading benefits.

So, remember not to let costs deter you from worthy marriage or couples counseling! Consider these benefits when you give it a fair shot:

  • Resentment and conflict resolution
  • Removal of relationship doubts, blame, and defensiveness
  • Regained trust and intimacy with your partner
  • Fewer communication issues and healthier communication habits
  • Renewed and deeper commitment
  • Complete avoidance of separation or divorce and costs 

For information on fees and insurance reimbursements for therapy provided by Well Marriage, go here! We’re also happy to answer questions during our intake process.

How To Get Couples Therapy Covered By Insurance

We work hard at Well Marriage to make sure our out of pocket costs are in line with others in the area and accessible to clients. For those wanting or needing their sessions covered by insurance, it’s often a case-by-case situation; here’s a list of ways you could qualify:

  • Out-of-network reimbursement allows you to use private insurance.
  • Insurance companies often require a mental health diagnosis such as anxiety, depression, PTSD
  • Occasionally, couples therapy falls under family therapy. If your insurance provider offers family therapy, they could also offer couples therapy.

Bottom line, you should check with your insurance provider as well as the couples therapist you’re planning to work with for confirmation on what can and can’t be accepted. 

Is Marriage Counseling Covered By Insurance? Similar to insurance for couples therapy, the answer is both yes and no depending on whether or not you have private insurance to cover some of the costs of marriage counseling.

Regardless of cost or insurance coverage, it’s crucial to go with someone who is specifically trained and licensed in marriage or couples counseling. The more experience a therapist has in relational issues, the better they can help you!

What Is The Best Kind of Marriage Counselor?

Aside from having a license and the right experience, the best kind of marriage counselor is one that you and your life partner can both connect with positively. Experience and relevant training is still the number one factor, however, as our therapists will pull techniques from many methods to create a custom approach for your unique relationship needs. That’s why Well Marriage Center offers counseling from licensed specialists in a variety of locations. It’s time to mend the cracks in the road to relationship recovery. Get started on your path to a healthier relationship today!

 

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You CAN Save Your Marriage

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My granddaughter, age 3, encountered a see-saw (teeter-totter) for the first time last weekend. She literally giggled out loud with how easily she could move up and down with her 2 year old brother (who was being carefully supported by their mother) on the other end. It was all fun and games…until grandpa sat down on the other end.

Of course I balanced my weight at first so we could each go up and down. But after a little bit, this grandpa got tired and needed a quick break. I sat. I was heavy. Seeing my granddaughter confused, stuck high on the other end of this tiny see-saw, made me think of the confused look many couples that see me often have:

“Wait, what happened?”  “How did we get stuck?”
More importantly, “Can and how do we get down (unstuck)?”

Positive Override

Marriages begin with what renowned and leading marriage/couple psychologist Dr. John Gottman describes as a high, positive “set” point. It’s almost like the default position of the relationship. No matter what, most things are seen and experienced through this default lens. When the positive “set” point is high, couples are less likely to interpret things critically, or as a personal attack, or believe their relationship can ever be derailed. It takes far more negativity to harm your relationship than if your set point were lower.

Negative Override – when marriages gets heavy

But over time, anger, irritations, and resentment can build to the point that it’s like being a 3 year old on a See Saw with a tired grandfather. It can build for 2 years, or 5 years, or even 20 years, but if that balance tilts, and you slip from positive override into negative override, then everything begins to be interpreted more and more negatively. Marriage gets heavy.  Words said in a neutral tone get interpreted negatively. You interpret your spouse and your relationship more and more negatively. You think you’ve married the wrong person – or a person who is completely different than who you initially married. You get stuck. It’s as if there is a boulder on the other end of the see-saw. It’s no fun and in fact toxic.  And then you want to get off the See Saw and play with another toy.

Bottom line: Can I Save My Marriage?

I’ve been doing couples counseling for over 25 years now and what I can tell you is this: there is hope and there is good news for your relationship!   I’ve helped thousands of couples re-learn how to live and think in a way that notices what is strong and desirable about their partner and marriage, to tilt the balance of their relationship back into their favor. Couples who have completely lost hope have been amazed at this approach. I’ll be honest: it’s not as easy or simple as it might sound.  You’ll want an experienced guide or coach helping you figure out the steps and avenues to make it happen in your particular situation with your unique dynamic. But I’ve seen so many couples who thought they were done find renewed love, commitment, and a better relationship with each other. I believe it’s possible for you too!

Do yourself a favor: find a counselor or coach who works from a strengths-based, positive approach. Find a counselor or coach who is going to get in there with you and be active with you, someone who can help you work through some of the causes and pressure points of negativity in a way that relieves and revives your marriage instead of harming it, someone who is going to work with you to discern the steps and activities your specific relationships need to get itself back into positive override!


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Marriage Counseling in Northern VA

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Welcome to Well Marriage Center!  We understand it can be intimidating to consider couples counseling when your relationship runs into difficulty.  Plenty of questions run through people’s minds: “Will this help?” “How long does it last?” “How much money will this cost us?” “What if the counselor doesn’t think we can be helped?”

Click here to begin at our homepage: Well Marriage Center

It takes a lot of courage to ask for help.  Our commitment to you is to provide a safe, “marriage-friendly” approach that supports the probability that you can save and improve your relationship.  We want that for you and we believe you can make it happen!  For over 25 years we’ve sat with couples just like you, couples who have run into minor bumps or significant potholes, couples who wondered if their relationship could even be saved.  The great news is this: countless couples have echoed almost the identical statement, “several months ago I never would have imagined our relationship could be this good again.”

Well Marriage Center specializes in couples and marriage counseling in Northern VA, among other locations. We utilize a combination of therapeutic and wellness (strengths-based) models, we study the latest research, we engage with the leaders in our field, and we work exclusively with relationships or relationship dynamics.  Trust your relationship to a couple’s specialist!

We provide couples / marriage counseling Northern VA

Well Marriage Center Launches!

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For years I’ve heard Glen Denlinger dream about how to best help couples.  For 25+ years he has specialized in helping people save and repair their marriage relationships.  Back from the brink.  Succeeding.  Thriving.  This is his passion.  It’s what he enjoys most.  It’s his area of expertise.  Thousands of couples have benefited from his counsel and coaching.

Bit by bit…

But his dream as I heard it went beyond just couples counseling. More and more, bit by bit, it became a broader vision for the community and for couples in every stage of their relationship. “People can change the trajectory of their entire marriage if they can learn how to care for and nurture their relationship.  We need to help people understand that positive, strengths-based care and supportiveness helps a marriage soar much more than negativity drags it down.  This is not just about reducing our divorce rate. We also need to increase our percentage of ‘well-married’ and thriving relationships.”

Well Marriage Center was created to help your relationship succeed. We’re a full service center for your relationship. While we specialize in couples/marriage counseling, our vision is to encourage couples along the entire spectrum of relational health to care for and nurture their marriage relationship.