Marriage Counseling

Marriage counseling or couples counseling is a great tool to keep your relationship going strong. 

Much like our bodies need doctor check-ups and cars need tune-ups, marriage counseling is  a great checkpoint for any relationship to ensure it stays healthy and strong. 

Therapy is a safe space to strengthen your relationship tools including:

  • New, healthy ways to communicate and work through issues
  • A better understanding of each other 
  • A different view of yourself and how you react to different situations
  • Fresh ways to talk about vulnerable things

If this is your first time coming to marriage counseling, you may be wondering what a session will look like. At Jill Smith & Associates Counseling we are highly trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy  (EFCT), the approach we have had tremendous success with.

Before you walk into your first session we want you both to know:

  • We believe both partners have equal insights into what is going on in the relationship; we will not pick sides. 
  • We aren’t going to give up on your relationship
  • We want every session to feel comfortable for both of you 
  • We realize the issues are complicated. We have the skills and patience to work through this with you

Most importantly, our goal is for you both to leave every session feeling hope, feeling understood, feeling relief–and with a new communication skill acquired in every session.

Marriage counseling is great at any time in a relationship, but often couples come to us to discuss one of the following:

  • Feeling tired of fighting – Arguing among couples can often be traced back to some of our most primitive emotions (including anxiety and fear). Let us help you learn new ways of communicating.
  • Financial stresses within the marriage – 72% of Americans say money is a source of stress for them. This stress can affect our mood and your relationship.
  • Job stressors that are brought home
  • Infidelity/ Adultery/ Cheating/ Affairs – Infidelity does not have to mean the end of love, but it is a real betrayal that can cause heartbreak and pain for a partner.
  • Problems or issues due to in-laws
  • Periods of not speaking to each other or stonewalling
  • Addictions including alcohol, drugs or gambling
  • Pain points of raising children, including when children have their own problems (such as school bullies, friend drama, learning struggles, refusing to go to school or misbehaving in school)
  • Ex-partners and blended families that are experiencing difficulties
  • Deciding when to start a family
  • Grief and stress with difficultly getting pregnant or miscarriages
  • Aging parents and the stress about how and how much time to devote to caregiving
  • When their teens begin to break rules and there’s worry about friend choices, drugs and alcohol

Marriage Counseling at Jill Smith & Associates is a great place to start if you are struggling with any of the above, or just want to give counseling a try at this point in your relationship. If you have any preferences in regard to your therapist, the times you are available to meet us, or the office location you need, let us know when you request an appointment. All couples are welcome at Jill Smith & Associates Counseling–we are a LGBTIQA+ friendly business.

With two convenient locations in Lexington and Columbia we can accommodate new clients quickly. At our offices you’ll find a welcome atmosphere with friendly staff and amenities to make your visit with us not only comfortable but a highlight of your week.

Click here to request an appointment at Jill Smith & Associates Counseling today. We can usually book a time for you within a week at the location of your choice.