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Thrive Counseling Center
Therapy for Individuals, Couples & Family
Couples Counseling
Help for Your Relationship and Marriage

We can help give you the tools to a more fulfilling, satisfying, and nourishing relationship.

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Couples Therapy In Federal Way

male and female couple holding hands near a treeDo you feel like you and your partner keep getting stuck in the same frustrating patterns?

Do you feel like you have tried to get your relationship back on track and that it’s just not working?

Do you find it hard to remember what your relationship felt like during the “good times?”

If so, you and your partner could greatly benefit from couples counseling. 

At Thrive Counseling Center, we offer relationship counseling in Federal Way, Tacoma, Kent, and the surrounding areas. Our couples therapy services are great for married spouses and unmarried partners who feel like they’re stuck in a communication battle and getting nowhere good in their relationship. 

Our professional counseling services can help you get your communication, affection, intimacy, friendship, and overall relationship back to where you want it to be. If you’d like to speak with one of our King County couples counselors about working together, please call us any time at (206) 567-7267

The Relationship Rut

We all get stuck in ruts in our relationships. Even the happiest couples tend to go through rough patches or experiences that leave them feeling tired and burned out.

You know, the argument or issue that keeps coming up again and again that always leads to the same frustrating or disappointing end. It’s understandable to feel stuck—after all, if you knew how to resolve these patterns on your own, you probably would have done so already! 

Sometimes it can be hard to admit you need help to get things on track in your relationship. Somewhere along the way, many of us got the message that we are supposed to figure it out on our own. If you’re feeling bogged down by your relationship and are at a loss about how to move forward, it could be time to consider professional couples counseling in Federal Way. 

Benefits of Couples Counseling

Couples counseling in Federal Way offers a supportive space for partners to address challenges, strengthen their relationship, and build a healthier future together. At Thrive Counseling Center, our couples counseling services provide several key benefits.

Improved Communication

Couples counseling helps partners develop better communication skills, which enables them to express their needs and concerns more effectively. This leads to deeper understanding and stronger emotional connections.

Effective Conflict Resolution

With professional guidance, couples can work through unresolved issues, learn healthy conflict resolution techniques, and prevent future disagreements from escalating.

Stronger Emotional Bonds

Counseling helps couples reconnect and nurture their emotional bond by addressing underlying issues, fostering trust, and promoting intimacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s the thing, it’s likely that the secret you are thinking about is part of what’s getting in the way of you both feeling connected and on the same page in your relationship. 

We will discuss with you in the first session (if you are coming in as a couple) that we can’t do our job effectively if we are put in the role of secret-keepers throughout your counseling with us. 

Woman looking at cellphone during virtual therapy in federal wayThat being said, if there is a secret that you are holding that you are fearful of disclosing to your partner, counseling is a really good venue to get the support you need to share the secret.

Chances are, it’s going to come to light eventually.

How Counseling Can Help 

Counseling can often help minimize the fallout, and help you share in the most productive way possible.

With the help of your therapist, you can disclose what’s going on for you in a way that has the potential to bring you both closer together instead of drive you apart. We respect how hard this process is, and certainly would work with you before we did a disclosure session with the two of you.

Contact Our Federal Way Therapy Office

Are you ready for some help in getting your relationship back on track?  You can schedule online with one of our therapists now, give us a call at 206-567-7267, or send us an email.

To make the most out of couples counseling in Federal Way, a bit of preparation can go a long way. Here's what you can do:

woman and her male partner smilingSet Clear Goals

Before your session, discuss with your partner about what you hope to achieve. These could be individual aspirations or shared objectives you want to address as a couple.

Embrace Openness

A successful counseling session thrives on open communication. Be ready to speak freely with your couples therapist, and, most importantly, with one another. Sharing and listening without judgment is pivotal.

Arrive with Questions

Coming up with questions can be immensely helpful. Examples might include, "How can we improve our communication?" or "How do we rebuild trust after a conflict?"

Maintain Realistic Expectations

Understand that growth and change take time. Not every session will have a breakthrough, but each one is a step forward.

Plan Follow-Up Actions

After your session, spend time with your partner to discuss takeaways and how you'll incorporate the therapist's suggestions. Regular check-ins can keep you both accountable.

Call Us for Couples Counseling in Federal Way

Couples counseling can be a powerful tool to strengthen relationships. By setting goals, maintaining an open mindset, and being proactive, you can make the most of your therapy experience in Federal Way.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a specialized therapy approach that focuses on restructuring unhelpful, unhealthy, and untrue thoughts.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to help individuals in counseling identify how their actions, thoughts, and emotions intertwine and how these aspects can greatly affect how they feel about themselves and the world around them.

How does CBT work?

CBT is incredibly popular with therapists around the world. The root of this behavioral therapy is to recognize unhelpful behavior patterns—because when we learn to change our negative thoughts and challenge untrue assumptions, we become happier and improve our quality of life.

CBT is a form of “talking therapy” where an individual works one-on-one with a counselor to change behaviors and thought patterns. CBT does not typically focus on the past or previous life traumas—rather, it seeks to help the individual move forward and have more hope about the future.

What types of problems can CBT help with or improve?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy in Federal Way can help you if you’re struggling with any of the following:

  • Negative “self-talk” or habitually being unkind to yourself
  • Generalized anxiety
  • OCD
  • Relationship problems 
  • Insomnia
  • Eating disorders
  • Depression
  • Fear and phobias
  • Coping with grief 
  • Work-related stress

If you’re interested in trying cognitive-behavioral counseling in Federal Way, please contact our team today!

If your relationship with your partner is struggling, there’s a good chance you both could benefit from couples counseling in Auburn, WA.

It’s normal for couples to go through occasional “lulls” or difficult times, but if your relationship’s been struggling for a while, working with a couples therapist can probably help. 

Man and woman touching foreheadsBenefits of Couples Counseling

Common benefits of couples counseling in Auburn, WA include:

  • Improved communication flow between partners 
  • Dedication or rededication to the success of the relationship 
  • Feelings of clarity or improved focus regarding the relationship
  • Deeper feelings of physical/emotional connection
  • Stronger ability to express wants and needs 

Relationship or Marriage Help

Couples counseling can help your marriage or relationship if you feel stuck or like you are at a roadblock with a particular issue. We offer couples counseling in Auburn that is diverse and unique to you, which means that no two couples experience the same sessions and that no two sessions are the same. We can help you and your partner address common relationship issues that have to do with:

  • Finances
  • Sex and physical intimacy 
  • Children
  • Work
  • Stress management 
  • Household duties 
  • Achieving goals
  • Upcoming milestones such as children moving away or retiring from a job 

Couples counseling provides you and your partner with a safe space to discuss your issues and work through problems before they become too challenging.

Contact Our Auburn Counseling Office

To speak with a couples counselor near Auburn, call us at (206) 567-7267 today!

Therapy can provide the tools you need to be a great listener and sharer, which are the hallmarks of communication. Through counseling, we can help you (or you and your partner) develop and implement communication strategies that enhance the relationship dynamics—making it easier to share and listen.

Good communication also builds trust and contributes to mutual happiness as a couple or family.

man lovingly touching woman's cheek during therapyMarriage Counseling in Federal Way

You can improve intimacy by learning and implementing communication skills in your marriage. These skills also help you and your partner move away from unhealthy patterns like arguing the same point or never really resolving conflicts.

Communication also helps de-escalate potential arguments because you and your partner have new skills that promote easier sharing and enhanced listening.

With excellent communication skills at your disposal, you can discuss complex topics without coming into conflict.

A trained counselor in Federal Way, WA, can help you reach your goals as a couple by providing the skillset you need to enjoy your relationship mutually.

Couples Counseling in Federal Way, WA

Is communication an issue in your relationship? Do you feel unheard? Are you constantly arguing about the same things? To learn more about counseling and therapy or to arrange a session with one of our compassionate therapists, we encourage you to give us a call today.

Moving Beyond the Counseling Stigma

If you feel like running the other way after the suggestion to consider counseling, you’re definitely not alone. Although our society has come a long way in recognizing mental health struggles and de-stigmatizing therapy, many of us still have a lot of work to do on a personal level.

There are a whole host of reasons you may feel ashamed or embarrassed at the idea of attending counseling. Common reasons could include your upbringing and your parent’s views on counseling; the opinions of your friends, coworkers, or roommates; a lack of education about and exposure to the counseling world; or simply feeling like you’re somehow a failure for seeking professional help.

Whatever your reasons, we understand them—and we’re here to listen. It takes a lot of courage to contact a professional about relationship or marriage counseling, so we always want to be respectful of your time and your worries. We encourage our prospective clients to agree to attend a single counseling session to start so they can get a better feel for how couples counseling actually works. 

When both partners agree and have an open mind about working with a couple's therapist, the process tends to be a lot more successful. Once you’ve taken that leap of faith and decided to give couples counseling a try, we think you’ll find that it can benefit your relationship in ways you never even anticipated. 

Relationship and Marriage Counseling in Federal Way

woman hugging her male partner's shouldersFrom our personal and professional experiences, we want you to know that the smartest thing to do when you are stuck in a rut in your relationships is to ask for help! The sooner you get the help you need to get things back on track, the more likely your relationship will withstand the test of time.

Our skilled and licensed couples therapists have successfully helped couples cope with a variety of relationship problems, and we can help you with:

  • Increasing feelings of connection (because we all deserve to be in a relationship where we feel nourished and supported)
  • Learning skills and strategies for effective communication (so you can get out of the patterns and back into your relationship)
  • Re-igniting the passion in your relationship (which can get so easily lost in the midst of jobs, kids, and responsibilities) 
  • Rebuilding trust after an affair or emotional betrayal
  • Finding ways to keep anxiety, depression, ADHD, or Autism/Asperger’s diagnosis from destroying relationships
  • Premarital counseling to help pave the way to a successful marriage right from the start
  • Deciding whether to stay in your marriage or to dismantle it

We utilize evidence-based practices to support you in taking the steps towards a more fulfilling, nourishing, and satisfying relationship with your partner. You will walk away from your first session with immediate tools and strategies to help you both get on the same page again.

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Guidance and Help From Experienced Professionals Near Tacoma

When you decide to work with a relationship therapist in Federal Way, it’s crucial that you choose someone who is the right fit for your situation. You and your partner should choose a therapist you both feel comfortable working with, as you will need to trust this individual and visit with them regularly. 

Here at Thrive Counseling Center, we have over a dozen therapists trained to work with clients from various backgrounds and lifestyles. No matter what you’re looking for in a counselor, we likely have at least one professional who would be a good match. 

Why is it important to enjoy working with your relationship or marriage therapist? Because this person will lead your discussions and guide your counseling sessions. It’s your counselor's job to mediate conversations, provide constructive feedback, and recommend at-home exercises and strategies to help you discern which areas of your relationship aren’t working. 

Couples counselors let you change your approach to your relationship for the better and provide a new, fresh perspective on your situation, which means they can offer suggestions or approaches you may not have considered before. When you’re feeling stuck, hopeless, and out of options, it’s an excellent time to bring in a trained professional. 

Benefits of Couples Counseling

Older man and woman sitting at kitchen table

No relationship will ever be perfect, and no amount of counseling will ever solve every single problem you and your partner have. Counseling can, however, tip the scales in your favor when your love is struggling and help you rediscover the best aspects of your romantic connection.

Couples who consistently attend counseling over the long-term typically end up with a more robust tool kit for handling challenging situations, and they’ll build a healthier and happier relationship with a stronger foundation. This foundation is particularly important in a marriage, where unity between spouses is paramount to the relationship’s survival.

We think everyone can benefit from couples counseling, but some of our favorite benefits include:

  • A better or renewed understanding of your partner’s emotional and physical needs, as well as greater comprehension of what they expect from your relationship

  • Healthier communication skills that make it easier to de-escalate during arguments and keep conversations respectful and helpful

  • An increased sense of connection and emotional intimacy with your partner

  • Improved self-awareness and understanding of what you want and need 

Meet Our Counselors:

Leslie Chun-Hajarizadeh LSWAIC
She/Her

Location: Virtual/Online

Ages: Individual Adults and Couples

Specializes in: Anxiety, Depression, Trauma/PTSD, Substance Use, Work and Life Stress, Elder Care, SI, Life Transitions

Language(s): English

"I base my practice on a humanistic and integrative approach to the ...

counselor lili lyne

Lili Lyne LMFTA
They/Them

Locations: In Office (West Seattle) and Virtual / Online

Ages: Teens, Adults, Couples, Children (7+)

Specializes in: LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples and children, Gender Identity, Perinatal Support

Languages: English

"My approach is client-centered, as I ...

Ashley Liu, LICSW

Ashley Liu LICSW
She/Her

Location: In Office and Virtual/Online

Ages: Children (5+), Teens, Families, Young Adults

Specializes in: Anxiety, Depression, Autism Spectrum, ADHD, Autplay Therapy, Family Conflict, Grief, Self-Esteem, ...

Federal Way Counselor Todd Sadler , MA, LMHC, NBCC

Todd Sadler MA, LMHC

 

Location: In Office and Virtual / Online 

Ages: Adults, Couples

Specializes in: Anxiety, Self-Esteem Concerns, Neurodiversity, Trauma/PTSD

Language(s): English

"My holistic approach to therapy ...

Madeleine Cushman - Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Madeleine Cushman LMHC, CMHS, DMHS
She/Her

Location: Virtual/Online Only

Ages: Children 0-5, Adults, Couples, Families

Specializes in: Perinatal Mental Health (Pregnancy, Postpartum, Fertility Issues, Pregnancy Loss), Parenting Support, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Working with Parents and/or Children with Disabilities

Language(s): English

"Madeleine ...

Stephanie Brickner, MS, LMFT

Stephanie Brickner MS, LMFT Assistant Clinical Director
She/Her

Location: In Office and Virtual / Online 

Ages: Children (4+), Teens, Adults

Specializes in: Autism, ADD/ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma / PTSD, LGBTQIA+, Family Dynamics

Language(s): English

Federal Way Counselor Deborah Bloom , PsyD, LMFT, CMHS

Dr. Deborah Bloom PsyD, LMFT, CMHS Clinical Director
She/Her

Clinical Director, Founder of Thrive Counseling Center

September Liam Valentine, LICSWA

September Liam Valentine LICSWA
She/They

Location: In Office and Virtual/Online

Ages: Individual Adults, LGBTQIAP+ & Non-Traditional Couples

Specializes in: Anxiety, Depression, Grief, ASD, ADHD, LGBTQIAP+, Polyamory

Language(s): English

"Perhaps as ...

Contact Our Federal Way Office

We invite you to discover these and the countless other benefits of couples counseling for yourself. Our relationship counselors are always accepting new clients, and we’re happy to schedule a telehealth consultation with you and your partner for the coming weeks. We offer online and in-person couples counseling to those in Washington state. To learn more about our approach, contact us today at (206) 567-7267

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