What it is:
On this page, we will refer to those in romantic relationships as “partners” or “couples” for ease of language. However, TAP clinicians are experienced with and open to working with individuals in all types of connections (i.e., ethical non-monogamy, polyamory, open relationships).
Couples enrichment counseling at the TAP Clinic is designed to strengthen commitment, improve communication, and increase satisfaction for those who are entering a new phase of their relationships (e.g., engagement, co-habitation, starting a family, or retirement). This type of treatment is most appropriate for partners who are in a committed relationship, with all partners seeking to better understand and enrich their connection. The goals of couples enrichment counseling generally include strengthening of areas such as effective communication, shared goals and values (including those around finances or parenting), awareness of relationship “land mines" related to history or family of origin, sexual satisfaction, and partnership expectations.
Enrichment counseling is different from traditional couples therapy, in that couples therapy is designed to help couples already experiencing relationship distress and often involves a more substantial time commitment. Couples enrichment work is time-limited and involves an assessment followed by skills training designed to enhance couple functioning.
For those seeking pre-marital counseling outside of a religious setting, TAP’s couples enrichment work may be a good fit. Though TAP’s providers are unable to provide religious counseling, we are able to incorporate a couples’ spiritual values into relationship enrichment discussions, for those who are interested. If you are seeking pre-marital counseling in particular, please contact us at least 4 months prior to your wedding day. For couples seeking enrichment counseling for transitions other than marriage (e.g., move-in, decision to proceed towards pregnancy or adoption), we suggest initiating counseling several months prior to the transition to allow sufficient time to process and prepare for the transition.
Does This Sound Familiar?
- I/we are expecting a life transition and want to navigate it gracefully.
- I would like help communicating some things to my partner that I find difficult to talk about or articulate.
- I/we want to explore how our religious, cultural, racial, geographical, or family history interacts with my partners.’
- I/we want to clarify and align our values and goals within our relationship.
- I/we want to feel a greater sense of teamwork, connection, and trust in our relationship.
- I/we want to increase emotional, physical, and sexual intimacy and communication in our relationship.
- I/we want to increase our relationship’s resiliency– making it more durable, flexible, and secure and allowing partners to feel and express vulnerability.
- You hope to work with your partner/partners to create plans for the future, clearly set shared goals and work toward them, build a happier or more peaceful household, and co-parent effectively
- My partner and I are expecting a child and we would like to prepare for this by strengthening our distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and communication skills.
Associated Concerns:
Couples who benefit most from enrichment counseling are those experiencing no to low-level distress in the partnership, have noticed slight changes in connection or vitality of the relationship, or are interested in preemptive ways of further strengthening communication and connection with each other.
Enrichment, or relationship resiliency-focused counseling is designed for couples heading off issues before they have become serious relationship stressors or relationship threatening concerns.
If the couple is experiencing significant distress, ambivalence of commitment to the partnership, or behaviors jeopardizing the partnership (e.g., infidelity, serious breaches of trust), the couple is likely more appropriate for full couples therapy rather than brief enrichment counseling.
Specialty Services at TAP:
Below are a list of empirically supported assessments or therapies that one or more of our specialists could provide. Click on an intervention to learn more!