Causes
Below are some common causes/barriers to having a healthy relationship:

• Problems over in-laws, money, sex, gender role conflicts
• Families with young children, children with disabilities
• Fears and anxiety
• Tantrums and behavior problems
• Adolescents, school problems, and young adulthood
• Drug and alcohol problems, eating disorders
• Depression and suicide attempts
• Losses, untimely, and traumatic loss
• Career problems, midlife
• Care taking problems
• Stress of job, marriage, divorce
• Family conflicts, divorce and remarriage
• Aging family members
• Inter-generational conflicts and cutoff

Screening and Diagnosis

Usually a couple meets with the therapist to discuss the problem, occasionally the therapist will see each person individually.    The meeting lasts one hour.  During the session it will be important to discuss the focus and goals of treatment.

Treatment

Both behavior and cognitive therapies may be used while in treatment.  Your therapist might use a family system, solution focus, emotive, or other modalities of therapy to help you.

Coping Skills

Below are some typical skills to improve your relationship or to discuss with your partner.

• Develop empathic, active listening skills
• Improve problem-solving skills
• Resolve conflicts in ways that meet the needs of both partners
• Explore ways for old wounds (from this or previous relationships) to be healed
• If possible, find ways to be mutually satisfying in the relationship
• If not possible to stay together, then to separate in a healthy and respectful way.