It’s not uncommon for couples to struggle with communication problems — challenges can range from difficulties with identifying and expressing your needs to painful back- and-forth verbal jabs that lead nowhere.
Ongoing misunderstandings can lead to frustration, anger, disconnection and feelings of being taken for granted or minimized. Once these feelings take hold, a once solid marriage or relationship can spiral out of control. Couples counseling can help.
Marriage/Couples Counseling Austin TX
Research shows that marriage or couples counseling can help with a wide range of 
relationship issues. Here is a brief summary of some of the reasons why couples come to see me:
Breakdowns in communication
Do you and your spouse/partner struggle to communicate effectively? Have you given up trying to be understood by your partner?
It’s highly distressing to feel as if you don’t have a voice in your relationship, to feel that you’re not listened to or understood by the person you love. Couples counseling is designed to help you tune into each other’s desire and need for understanding and connection.
Struggles to connect emotionally and/or sexually
Do you feel emotionally disconnected from your partner? Do you and your partner struggle to connect, and, as a result, do you find yourself feeling lonely?
Research on attachment shows that couples become disconnected when they feel unsafe emotionally; they can no longer turn toward each other for emotional support and sustenance. In marriage-couples counseling we will explore ways to make it safe again to connect emotionally and sexually.
Buckling under stress
Are you or your spouse dealing with a significant transition or life stressor (tending to ill/aging parents, medical/health issues, coping with a traumatic event, becoming parents, employment/work issues, moving/relocation, etc.)?
Heightened stress can flood your relationship and negatively impact how you and your partner relate to one another. Impatience, anger and increased marital conflict can be signs that stress has become a problem for you. Couples therapy can help you and your spouse/partner better manage stress and communicate more effectively during challenging times.
Healing from an affair
Are you reeling from the upheaval caused by an emotional and/or physical affair? Has the trauma from the betrayal shattered trust and your ability to move forward?
The emotional and relational fallout from an affair is considerable. Often the couples that come to see me for affair-recovery work are in crisis and in great pain. But rebuilding is possible. Over the last two decades I’ve worked with hundreds of couples who have faced this painful reality.
Mental health issues
Is it possible that unresolved psychological issues (such as depression, anxiety, alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder, to name a few) are negatively impacting your relationship/marriage?
There are times when one partner might be struggling emotionally, and this adversely impacts his/her ability to be present and engaged in the marriage or relationship. When this occurs, identifying and treating the underlying psychological issue can positively affect the relationship.
Contact Dr. Nicastro to set up an appointment
Teletherapy sessions (video online sessions) for clients throughout the United States.
Rich Nicastro, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience helping individuals and couples. He provides teletherapy to clients across the United States. To schedule an appointment, he can be reached at Rich@RichardNicastro.com.