Couples Counseling for Marriage and Relationships

Couples Counseling

for Marriage and Relationships

with Deanne Carter, LMHC in Tacoma

Do you find yourself getting frustrated

about how your partner treats you?Feeling run down and afraid you are out of options?Is your relationship with your partner not what it used to be?Perhaps you feel more like you are cohabitating

than in an intimate relationship.

I thought we were done. This was a last ditch effort. After two months, I feel like we are on a second honeymoon. Thank you so much for helping us reconnect."

~ a husband of 14 years

"Deanne is one of the most talented counselors I’ve ever known.”

~ grandfather, husband, painter

Be part of the 50% that stays together

From this 33 page practical guide, spouses who suspect infidelity get 14 red flag signs a spouse is cheating and what first steps to take, unfaithful partners learn the 15 reasons to end an affair, and the couple is given 15 ways to rekindle trust and repair their wounds. Betrayals in Marriage: Extramarital Affairs and How To Stop Them from Ruining Your Relationship is written by Tacoma's expert couples counselor Deanne Carter, LMHC as a down to earth start designed to save your marriage before it’s too late.

I work with all types of couples who struggle with feeling misunderstood, lonely, and frustrated about issues such as trust, repeated conflict, and communication breakdown. Whether you want pre-marital counseling, feel yourself drifting, or are considering divorce, I provide neutral, yet intentional guidance to help you.

You may think your relationship is doomed. Unfortunately, as conflict worsens, people tend to reinforce their own negative beliefs and sabotaging behaviors. If you bail now, you are likely to end up repeating the same in the next relationship.

By understanding your own beliefs and actions that contribute to your fulfillment and/or dissatisfaction, you empower yourself to obtain the relationship you want.

My work with family reconciliation prepared me to help you shift chronic, long-term relationship problems in a short period of time. I am available to identifying specific marriage saving goals and objectives, strategies to move beyond ineffective and harmful ways of reacting to your partner, and strengthen your ability to be trustworthy, vulnerable, clear, assertive, and present.

People often come to couples counseling with lots of fear and anger. It is difficult, at that time, to see how it can get better or what relationship patterns you are following. We will work step by step to improve communication, respect, and personal responsibility so you may experience a rewarding, close relationship.

As your therapist, I cannot pressure your partner into participating. However, I can help by offering objective, direct, and respectful guidance for your relationship with strategies that have been proven to work.

Many people experience some level of anxiety or resistance prior to working with a therapist. I invite you to come for an initial assessment and trust yourself to know if this is the right place for you.

Couples and PTSD

Research has shown that individuals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have 1.6 times greater risk of divorce, 4 times more physical aggression in relationship, and 3.8 times greater risk for marital distress than individuals without a mental health condition.

Symptoms of PTSD put relationships at risk because of the impact of emotional numbing and avoidance, along with less cohesion and intimacy. The good news is that PTSD is one of the most treatable conditions and partners can help.

PTSD treatment alone does not necessarily improve intimate relationships but desensitizing the symptoms, along with improving communication skills, emotional expression, and quality time together does improve intimate relationships. Couples sessions can combine Cognitive Behavioral, Dialactical Behavioral, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Emotionally Focused Therapies to address your unique needs.