Coming into couples therapy is not something that people necessarily want to do. But you are at a point where not doing something about your relationship issues is worse than the discomfort of working with a therapist. Or maybe you have done relationship therapy before and you and your partner didn’t get the results that you wanted. You are looking for a relationship counseling approach that can help you get to the bottom of your issues and help you implement ways to change your relationship and not just talk about your problems.
John Harrison is a Certified Relational Life Therapist with Life Made Conscious who uses a powerful model of therapy to help couples and individuals alike.
RLT (Relational Life Therapy) is different in that it not only teaches the healthy and important relational skills, but it directly targets the behaviors and underlying reasons that the problems exist in the first place.
What is Relational Life Therapy?
RLT as relationship counseling or relationship therapy specifically targets :
The problem areas of your relational behavior AND past family of origin issues, or traumas, AND teaches invaluable relational skills.
RLT through couples therapy will teach you:
- How to end the cycle of fighting and/or distancing
- How to increase intimacy and learn to get what you want in healthy ways
- How to work through infidelity and trust issues
- Skills that will enhance your awareness of self and your relationship
- Ways to empower your relationship and make it great
Joining Though the Truth
The most important part of any relationship therapy is when both partners can work together towards a mutual goal. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have different wants and needs as individuals. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have different perceptions, past grievances, or pain. We do. But what usually holds couples up from getting the help they seek in relationship counseling, or relationship therapy, is that partners are at odds with one another. Relational Life Therapy (RLT) specifically focuses on creating an alliance with the partners seeking help. This alliance building happens in the first phase of RLT which is called “joining through the truth”. This is where we bring the all the hard truths to light and have it positively impact the relationship and relationship therapy process. This is a caring and compassionate look at what is really going on. RLT does this “joining through the truth” in a non blaming, non shaming, way so both partners can feel listened to, respected, and see that their presence and wants and needs are important. But also that dysfunctional behavior has to be addressed.
Family of Origin and Dealing with Past Hurts and Pain
We are all products of our environment and experiences. You’ve heard that saying that we inevitably turn into our parents. Well, in many ways we do. And some of what our parents, family dynamic, or past experiences do is show us dysfunctional relationship patterns and behaviors. There is no shame in this. We only know what we know. But you and your partner are coming into relationship therapy to learn a new way to relate. To do this it takes help from the therapist to guide you and your partner into seeing how your, and your partner’s, family of origin has impacted your relationship. Couples therapy through RLT will guide you in a compassionate and caring way through your own family of origin patters to see where your relational behaviors are causing some of your problems. We have all been hurt in the past too. Some of those hurts were caused by your current relationship and some of them happened long before you met your partner. RLT will help you learn from your past painful experiences of hurt, loss, abandonment, and pain to better understand yourself and help you heal so you can heal your marriage or relationship.
Invaluable Relational and Communication Skills
Now that you and your spouse have a better understanding of why you do what you do, you are ready to learn the skills to start getting the marriage that you want. RLT will teach you communication and relationship skills that you can apply immediately to help strengthen and repair your marriage or relationship. Communication, listening, proper boundaries, asking for help, expressing empathy, being present, and being more assertive and loving are all skills that RLT can teach you to be a more loving partner and a more content and happy individual.
Partners Who Don’t Like to Talk About Their Emotions
Couples therapy might seem intimidating to men but both men and women can have problems in knowing what emotions they are experiencing. The impact of this usually will result in partners that don’t seem “present” in their home and family life. RLT is an effective relationship therapy approach that can help men and women learn how to be more emotionally present with their spouses and families. Because RLT is truth focused and is direct, it is helpful for partners that may not be emotionally expressive. Some men, and partners in general, are appreciative of a no nonsense approach to therapy that is realistic, direct, while also is understanding and compassionate to partners who struggle with emotionally connecting with their partners and family. We all want to be heard, loved, and respected for who we are. So many times partners talk about not wanting to be “changed into someone different” than who they are. RLT respects each partner for their personalities and who they are as people while encouraging them to be “more” of who they are and emphasizing the very qualities that your partner fell in love with you in the first place.
Why Choose Us for Relationship Counseling?
We will be honest and straightforward with you and your partner. We will work towards your relationship goals and help you stay focused on your goals. We will teach you and your partner new ways to make your relationship healthier and more enjoyable.
We do not believe in wasting your time.
We do not want to see you in therapy going over the same issues over and over.
We will set you up in position to work on your relationship goals as effectively as possible.
RLT can change your life and your marriage.
Life Made Conscious offers counseling for men and couples in Cincinnati, OH. We also serve Pleasant Ridge, Hyde Park, Oakley, Indian Hill, and the surrounding communities.
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All communication is confidential.