Life can throw challenges at us that weigh heavily on our relationships. Perhaps one of you is battling anxiety or depression that makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning. Maybe you have pain from your past, and when it becomes triggered, your partner misinterprets your behavior, or does not understand what you are going through. You may be using alcohol, work, food or other behaviors to numb your stress, and now those coping behaviors, are starting to hurt your relationship.

If you or your partner are struggling, it inevitably affects you both. You might feel like your spouse does not emotionally support you, so you shut them out. Or maybe you are on the other side: watching the person you love wrestle with mood swings, sleepless nights, or explosive anger and feel powerless to help. You may want to be there for each other, but you don’t know how. Instead of closeness and mutual support, you end up with distance and misunderstandings.

These challenges are not easy to talk about. It can be hard to share with your partner that you think you are depressed or to talk openly about troubling behaviors you cannot seem to stop. But suffering in silence or tiptoeing around the problem often creates even more isolation. The truth is, you’re not alone in this. Many couples find themselves struggling under the strain of mental health challenges and compulsive behaviors, and it doesn’t mean your relationship is doomed. What it does mean is that outside support is needed and could make a big difference in helping both of you understand, cope, and get the therapeutic treatment you need. These personal struggles matter, and addressing them together, with guidance, can bring relief and closeness.

At Integrative Couples Therapy, we know how deeply mental health, behavior, and relationships are intertwined. When one of you suffers, both of you suffer. Our approach is to help you face these challenges together. In couples sessions, we provide a warm, non-judgmental space where you can begin talking about what each of you is experiencing and how it’s impacting your interactions and life together. We move slowly and thoughtfully, without judgement, blame, or shame. The goal is to help you both understand what is going on beneath the surface and figure out what kind of support will help. As your bond strengthens, and you find it easier to talk about individual struggles and navigate challenges with more confidence.

Our approach might involve couples therapy, individual therapy, family therapy, or referrals to providers in the community. We emphasize a collaborative treatment team approach to help ensure open communication among all the professionals that are supporting you. As an integrative practice, we can help coordinate that support. If one or both of you would benefit from additional resources, like a psychiatrist, psychological assessment, individual therapy, family therapy, a trauma specialist, parenting support, a drug and alcohol treatment program, or a support group, we can help you find these resources while keeping your relationship at the center of the process.

Things may feel heavy and complicated right now, but they can get better. We are here to help you take the next step forward, at whatever pace feels right for you. You are not alone in this anymore, and together we can help you and your partner restore health and wellbeing.