Marriage Counseling

People say that the hardest part of a marriage is the first year. If you have been married more than a year you know that is not always necessarily the truth. As you grow in your life ideas and desires may change. Sometimes these changes make it feel as though you are walking in a different place than your spouse. Whether your struggles are communication problems, addictions, or just a need for refreshing your marriage Champions Christian Counseling Center can offer you a supportive place to work through the time. We will talk to you one-on-one and as a couple to encourage you to focus your marriage on Christ and each other and help you to find a way to communicate more effectively.

One of the most important skills for a relationship is developing the skill of active listening. When listening to your spouse force yourself to dwell on his/her words. Look at your spouse while he/she is talking. Don’t interrupt, because if you do he/she will probably quit talking. Remember to thank him/her for talking and sharing his/her thoughts with you. Married couples get themselves in trouble by thinking the other person knows how they feel when in truth they don’t have a clue. So, turn off the TV, put down your book or newspaper and become an active listener.

When there are problems in a relationship, it is best to identify what is happening. Once a correct diagnosis is made, then steps to heal the marriage can be made. The eight areas to consider and questions to ask yourself are the following:

1. Distance – How far apart have you become?

2. Power Struggle – Does somebody have to “win”?

3. Trust – Have you lost faith in your spouse?

4. Defense of self-identity – Have you given up friends, hobbies, etc. to keep your spouse happy?

5. Sex – Are your sexual activities pleasurable and satisfying?

6. Centricity – Are you both thinking only of yourselves?

7. Unrealistic illusion and expectations – Did you want “a knight in shining armor” or “a perfect lady” for a spouse?

8. Territorial aggression – Do you disagree about what is mine, yours and ours?

If you decide to negotiate with your spouse for change, you’ll first want to identify the feelings surrounding the problem area that has been defined. After the feelings have been explored, negotiate a time-limited and specific contract.

Please contact us for more information or for an appointment by calling us at 281-357-4111 or e-mailing us at info@cccctomball.com.

Office Hours

Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday appointments available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.