"What I like about counseling with Kerry is her uncanny way of putting me at ease, even with the tough stuff. My husband and I can walk into a session and I will be just dreading the whole thing and by the time we walk out I can see light at the end of the tunnel again. Kerry helps us see how things are not 'right' or 'wrong' but that different behavior leads to different outcomes, and this has empowered us to make real changes."

-A/Wife

Couples Therapy

mature couple

People seek couples therapy for different reasons. Perhaps your marriage is in crisis, or you're trapped in a downward spiral of fighting and gridlock, or you avoid conflict and are afraid to venture into the deeper waters of negotiation and discussion. Whatever the reason, couples therapy can help. With divorce rates at over 50%, and with 87% of couples going into crisis after the birth of their first child, couples counseling is neither uncommon nor a last resort, and it can help immensely in situations of crisis.

All relationships go through difficult times. It can be easy to mistake these times as a sign that your relationship is destined to end, when in reality this may not be the case. Crisis is a crossroads that may hold the potential for deeper intimacy and new growth between you and your partner. Working with a therapist can help you and your partner navigate your way through:

  • Repetitive fights and/or withdrawal
  • Crisis periods and stressful life transitions
  • Parenting issues
  • Feeling disconnected and bored in your relationship
  • Problems with sex, intimacy and trust
  • Gridlock and unresolved issues
  • Ineffective or damaging patterns of communication

Our Philosophy

At the Northampton Center for Couples Therapy we believe:

  • All long-term relationships have unique challenges that can feel insurmountable.
  • Relationship difficulties often provide opportunities for growth, learning and self-knowledge that are not available through other means.
  • There are concrete, learnable skills that can break the frustrating patterns you and your partner often feel stuck in.
  • Learning how to repair damage caused by the conflict in your relationship is essential.
  • Gaining insight into your strengths and vulnerabilities as a couple, and identifying the origin of these dynamics, can help facilitate changes and connection that previously were not possible.
  • Relationships need to be nurtured. It is essential to cultivate and create opportunities to connect, play and relax as a couple

Our Approach to Counseling

young couple

As part of our work together, we provide:

  • A comprehensive assessment of your relationship's strengths, struggles and challenges.
  • A customized treatment plan geared towards stabilizing your relationship, healing, and preventing future relapses.
  • 90-minute therapy sessions for traditional couples therapy and 4 to 6-hour sessions for marathon therapy clients.
  • Biofeedback: Learning how to manage stress is deeply beneficial to your relationships and your life. Biofeedback will help you reduce and control your negative emotions, shift your emotional states, and increase mental clarity and energy. You'll learn how your thoughts and emotions affect your nervous system, and you'll learn how to calm yourself after being "flooded" during an argument.