YOUNG ADULT COUNSELING IN BRADENTON, FL & ONLINE ACROSS FL AND OH

Support for couples who want to strengthen communication, rebuild connection, and work through challenges more effectively

SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION

When Communication Feels Harder Than It Should

Every relationship experiences tension. But over time, misunderstandings, conflict, stress, or unresolved hurts can create distance.

You may notice:

The same arguments happening again and again
Feeling unheard or misunderstood
Increased frustration or emotional withdrawal
Difficulty communicating without escalating
Lingering resentment or trust concerns

Whether you’re dating, engaged, newly married, or have been together for years, counseling offers a structured space to slow things down and work through patterns intentionally.

What Couples or Marriage Counseling Can Help With

Couples counseling can support you in:
- Improving communication and conflict resolution
- Rebuilding trust and emotional safety
- Clarifying expectations, roles, and boundaries
- Navigating life transitions together
- Strengthening emotional and physical connection
- Preparing for marriage with practical tools and shared vision
The goal isn’t to “win” arguments—it’s to understand one another more clearly and build a stronger foundation.

My Approach to Working with Couples

I take a collaborative, structured approach to couples counseling. That means I work with both partners to understand patterns—not to assign blame.

In our sessions, we focus on:

Identifying recurring cycles of conflict
Improving communication in real time
Increasing emotional awareness and regulation
Clarifying needs and expectations
Developing practical tools you can use outside of sessions

Couples counseling works best when both partners are willing to participate honestly and take responsibility for their part in the relationship dynamic.

Premarital Counseling

Premarital counseling offers a proactive space to strengthen your relationship before marriage. This process helps you and your partner clarify expectations, strengthen communication, and develop a shared understanding as you prepare for life together.

Some couples hesitate to pursue premarital counseling because they assume needing support means something is wrong. In reality, seeking counseling before marriage is a sign of intentionality—not dysfunction. It reflects a commitment to building a strong foundation rather than waiting until challenges feel overwhelming.

I am a certified facilitator of the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment, which I use to guide our work together. This research-based tool highlights strengths in your relationship and identifies areas for growth, providing a structured framework for meaningful conversations about topics such as:

Communication styles
Conflict resolution patterns
Roles and responsibilities
Finances and future planning
Family dynamics
Spiritual beliefs and shared values

Research shows that couples who participate in premarital counseling reduce their risk of divorce by approximately 31%. Investing in your relationship now can strengthen your foundation for the years ahead!

Faith-Based Couples Counseling

For couples who desire it, Christian faith can be thoughtfully integrated into the counseling process. Faith integration is guided by your comfort level and may include reflection on shared values, spiritual expectations, and relational patterns.

For some couples, this means exploring how faith shapes communication, conflict, forgiveness, or roles within the relationship. For others, it simply means knowing that their beliefs are respected and understood as part of the broader context of their relationship.

Is Couples Counseling Right for You?

Couples counseling may be helpful if:

You feel stuck in repeated conflict
Communication feels strained or tense
You want to strengthen your relationship before marriage
You’re motivated to work toward change together

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to seek support.

For couples counseling, it is typically recommended that each partner complete an individual intake appointment before beginning joint sessions. For premarital counseling, this process may look slightly different due to the structured nature of the assessment and how those sessions are organized.
In both cases, the primary focus of the work is on meeting together as a couple. If individual meetings become necessary at any point, this is discussed clearly in advance.
If it’s determined that one or both partners would benefit from separate ongoing individual therapy in addition to couples work, appropriate referrals will be provided.
That’s very common. The initial intake sessions give each partner space to ask questions, share concerns, and determine whether couples counseling feels like a productive next step.
The length of counseling depends on your goals and the concerns you’re working through. Some couples seek short-term support around a specific issue, while others benefit from longer-term work to address deeper patterns.
We’ll regularly check in to ensure the process feels helpful and aligned with your goals.