Couple to Couple
A couple vows to make a deep commitment when they enter into marriage, and this commitment is the perfect environment for in depth development. Marriage creates an atmosphere of potential that can bring out the best or the worst in each of the partners. If a couple works together, encouraging and challenging each other, they can reach unprecedented levels of growth. If the couple settles into negative behavioral patterns, the relationship can wither, diminishing passion and intimacy. Marriage therapy works to help couples open their eyes to the possibility of growth through healthy communication and self discovery. The goal is to give couples the tools to develop and progress both as individuals and as partners within their relationship.
Short introduction to Irwin and Judy
Irwin and Judy have been married for thirty-seven years. They have 8 children and 20 grandchildren. Through the years, they have continually worked on themselves and their marriage. They want to share their experience with other couples and help them on their journey. Irwin and Judy know the challenges of a marital relationship firsthand, and they also understand the work that must be done to keep a marriage alive and flourishing.
Addiction and Betrayal
Addiction to substances and unhealthy behaviors are associated with numerous medical, psychiatric, and psychological issues. In addition, addiction can lead to social, family and legal problems. Unfortunately, marriage is not immune to the grips of addiction, and when one or both partners suffer from this problem, the relationship will falter.
One of the consequences of a marriage facing addiction is betrayal trauma. In general, betrayal trauma can occur when people or institutions on which a person relies on violate the trust or well-being of that person. In marriage, this betrayal is seen through infidelity, violence, and lying. Individuals who suffer from betrayal trauma may experience symptoms such as anger, sadness, insomnia, anxiety, hypervigilance, and obsessive and intrusive thoughts.
Crisis Intervention
What is a crisis? A crisis is an event or an experience that causes mental, emotional, physical and behavioral distress or problems. People in a crisis often have difficulty problem-solving and are unable to employ normal coping techniques. They need to be taught new coping mechanisms in order to get through the difficult time in their lives.
Crisis intervention is a short type of counseling. Specific goals are set in order to achieve stability, to increase an internal sense of empowerment and safety, and to locate appropriate outside resources. This intervention is not a substitute for long-term therapy, but rather crisis counseling can provide a safe outlet for immediate relief, focusing on decreasing acute distress, restoring physical and mental stabilization, and integrating prosocial coping skills.