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We now offer Telehealth and other video conferencing options!

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Continue to get the best possible counseling service from the comfort of your home. 

The Relationship Therapy Center is committed to adapting to our changing world. We are excited to provide you with a variety of safe and secure service options by conducting therapy through two-way audio and video communication platforms that you access from your computer, tablet or smartphone.  Some of the platforms we are utilizing are Telehealth, Zoom and Facetime.  These allow you to more efficiently access our counseling services where you are most comfortable.

Call us today!

Should I use this feature of wait for this crisis to pass?

Video counseling makes therapy more accessible and is a convenient option to keep your scheduled appointments or get the help you need. Research supports video conferencing and has found it to be an effective tool when in-person therapy is not an option. It gives you the support and help you need, with the convenience of being able to access services no matter where you are.

Nancy Carlson, one of our seasoned therapist’s was unsure how effective video conferencing or Telehealth would be with her struggling couples.  She has been convinced, however, by the feedback received from her clients, that this way of conducting therapy can be effective.  This includes feedback from her clients who have chosen to participate in Intensive Couples Counseling using teleconferencing. For Intensive Couples Counseling we are able to send the couple the books we use in this program electronically, so they have the written materials we typically use for our ICCs.

Your relationship and/or your individual mental health is too important to put on hold until after this Pandemic subsides. We are ready to help you have a better relationship and/or help your mental health through this crisis.

For couples perhaps it’s by helping you heal from an infidelity or other betrayal, helping you improve the intimacy in your relationship, helping you figure out how to coexist when you are both at home for a long period of time or improving your communication and conflict resolution skills.  For individuals perhaps it’s helping you work through anxiety or depression that has come up due to the pandemic, helping you work through your fears and what if’s or helping you figure out how to navigate your relationships with others during this uncertain time.

Whatever the case may be, we are here to help!

How to Have Difficult Conversations When You Don’t Like Conflict by Joel Garfinkle

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Be direct. Address uncomfortable situations head-on by getting right to the point. Have a frank, respectful discussion where both parties speak frankly about the details of an issue. Talking with people honestly and with respect creates mutually rewarding relationships, even when conversations are difficult.

There are situations, however, where cultural or personality differences should be considered. If your culture is conflict avoidant or doesn’t value directness, you can still engage in challenging conversations. In these cases, shift your approach from overly direct to a respectful, affirming back-and-forth conversation. For instance, if the person you are talking with seems to not be picking up on what you are saying, ask them to repeat their understanding of what you’ve shared. As they reflect back what they’ve heard, you can adjust your message to make sure the conflict is moving toward resolution. This communication style is open and less threatening. 

Don’t put it off. How often is your response to conflict something like, “I don’t want to talk about it” or “It’s not that big a deal” or “It’s not worth arguing about”? If you’re always promising yourself that you’ll “bring it up next time it happens,” well, now’s the time. Instead of putting off a conversation for some ideal future time, when it can be more easily dealt with, tackle it right away. Get your cards on the table so you can resolve the issue and move on.

It might seem risky to come right out and say something, but often that’s just what is needed. Give yourself or your counterpart a little bit of time to cool down, if necessary, and plan the general outline of what you want to convey and the outcome you desire. But then have the conversation, and make a plan to move on. After all the mental gymnastics of endlessly practicing conversations in your head, actually engaging in a two-way conversation can be inspiring, respectful, and productive.

Expect a positive outcome. You’ll struggle to follow this advice if you continue to go into a conflict telling yourself, “This is going to be a disaster.” Instead, tell yourself, “This will result in an improved relationship.”

Focus on the long-term gains that the conversation will create for the relationship. When your attention is focused on positive outcomes and benefits, it will shift your thinking process and inner dialogue to a more constructive place. As a result, you will grow more comfortable approaching the coworker who constantly criticizes and complains, or the subordinate who keeps underperforming.

Don’t ignore the tough situations you are aware of today. When the opportunity presents itself to provide unsolicited negative feedback to a difficult colleague or give a less-than-positive performance evaluation, summon the courage to address the conflict head-on.