After nearly 44 years in private practice working with couples in addition to individuals and groups, I have created a niche that helps couples deal with their issues to achieve conflict resolution.
My experience as a relationship counselor allows me to expand my practice into Relationship Coaching using many of the modalities that have been incorporated in my counseling techniques. It will be more specific in cognitive theory to expedite problems or difficulties that need coaching as opposed to therapy.
There is a wide difference in these disciplines, primarily in modalities. Relationship Coaching provides effective and expeditious resolution, whereby counseling digs deeper into the childhood wounds that we carry into our adulthood, unconsciously choosing partners that will create the biggest nightmare to help resolve childhood wounds, only to fire them for the very reason we hired them.
Conversely, Relationship Coaching deals more with the current issues that are polluting our relational space, causing a disruption in the relationship. These can and may be resolved easier than couple counseling because we deal with the here and now, as opposed to the past. However, it would be impossible not to look at the past to see the connection to the issues that arise in the present.
It may be possible that if the present issues cannot be resolved through a cognitive approach, I might suggest a few couple counseling sessions to explore the deeper issues. This would be a collaborative decision between the couple and me. If there is only one member of the relationship interested in Relationship Counseling, I can provide strategies and tools to effectuate positive change.
Relationship Coaching sessions are the same in time and fees as therapy. The main difference is it takes less time to resolve the present issues than to resolve the Inner Child issues that affect the relationship. Sometimes all a couple or person needs is a sounding board and an opportunity to see and review their options. Because I believe in the “right to self-determination”, I do not have a mandate or agenda. I believe that everyone has all the resources they need to work out their concerns with a little bit of professional insight and support. It is my responsibility to provide a pallet to help create their own outcome goal. I am just a facilitator/conduit in the process.
Relationship Coaching is applicable for anyone who feels stuck in their relationship with either a spouse, significant other, family member, friend, employer/employee, co-worker, and even neighbors. It is very common for people who are stuck in a relationship with an addict to seek out my professional expertise. Since most of the years in my practice was working with recovering addicts and their significant others, I feel I have the expertise, credentials and experience to be helpful to those feeling stuck in any dysfunctional relationship.
For further information, please call JOAN E. CHILDS at (954)854-7764.
