Couples Therapy and Marriage Counseling in Atlanta
Whether your relationship is entering an exciting new chapter or in need of in-depth repair, therapy can help.
A long-term relationship with a partner takes trust, compassion, and hard work, no matter if you’re a few months or a few decades into it. Two people bring their experiences, values, and expectations into it, creating an opening for growth, joy, and increased self-awareness, or resentment, frustration, and grief.
Wherever you are on that spectrum, couples counseling opens a window to connection– it promotes honesty, teaches you and your partner practical communication skills, and gives you a safe environment to be vulnerable.
Over time, counseling can allow you and your partner to understand each other better, view each other with compassion, and form a stronger connection.
You may be thinking, “I already know the problems present in my relationship. What’s the point of therapy?” One of our professional couples’ counselors will help you have discussions which move past the circular conversations you may be having, into the actual problem-solving or relational repair you and your partner need. Over time, the goal is for both partners to see each other through a compassionate lens, shedding emotional baggage and moving towards mutual appreciation and care.
Couples counseling arms you with one of the most powerful relationship tools: curiosity about your partner.
Our couples therapists are experienced in treating every kind of relationship issue, so please don’t think that your problems are too “boring” or too “extreme”— we’re here to help.
Inner Balance therapists are trained in the most effective modalities for couples therapy, including Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, and sex therapy.
As a result of couples therapy, you may find yourself:
Forging new patterns of growth and intimacy
Looking forward to one-on-one time with your partner
Navigating old points of conflict in new ways where you can see and hear each other
Feeling empowered with new communication and boundary-setting skills
Feeling more fully seen and cared for by your partner
Making life plans together
Experiencing more pleasure in your sexual relationship with your partner
Able to address old injuries between the two of you with compassion and love
Gaining self-awareness and self-acceptance, making you a better partner and person
Premarital counseling
Preparing for marriage can be joyful and can also bring up anxiety. Premarital counseling covers communication, money, in-laws and shared goals before the stakes get higher, with two certified Prepare/Enrich facilitators on the team.
Read more about premarital counseling, including what Georgia's premarital education provision requires.
Premarital counseling can help identify and resolve potential issues before they escalate, strengthen your relationship, and enhance a deeper emotional connection with your partner.
Sex and Intimacy Therapy
Often partners feel frustrated and hurt because of sexual dysfunction in their relationship but have no idea where to start in addressing it. Desire discrepancies,
relationship dynamics, and communication patterns all play a role in satisfying intimacy. Mental roadblocks like guilt or shame, anxiety, harmful cultural or religious messages, societal factors, family beliefs, body image concerns, internalized beliefs about gender identity/sexual orientation, among others, are just some of the psychological factors that can impair intimacy with your partner.
An Inner Balance Therapist can help guide you and your partner in exploring what factors are impacting your intimacy and teach skills to communicate with each other in a healthy way. Your therapist can also equip you with psychoeducation on healthy sex and assign homework exercises to improve intimacy by building trust and connection.
Many clients are intimidated or afraid to start sex therapy, however, each of our therapists makes every effort to provide a safe and nonjudgmental environment - all sexual concerns and topics are welcome in the therapy room. In taking this important step in your relationship, you and your partner can feel empowered about your sexual health, strengthen your connection and intimacy, and improve your overall well-being.
Who offers couples therapy at Inner Balance
Lauren Crawford TaylorLCSW + FounderMindfulness, IFS and Brainspotting for relationship challenges, grief, stress resilience and connecting to purpose, with 30 years in practice
Josh WayneLMSW, MPHCouples and relationship therapy focused on communication and connection, with nature-based and walk-and-talk options.
Suzanne VellaPre-licensed clinicianInternal Family Systems and somatic therapy for ADHD, autism, anxiety and inner-child wounds — as a neurodivergent therapist herselfJolia AlexanderLPCGottman Method couples therapy and intimacy work, with CBT and DBT for individuals
April HinrichsenLMFTCouples therapy with advanced EFT training, plus support for life transitions and perfectionism — at our Brookhaven office
Danielle JeraciLPCEMDR and EMDR intensives for trauma, plus relationship and intimacy work
Heather HewettLPCDBT and trauma-focused therapy for adults
