TOP RATED CINCINNATI COUPLES THERAPIST

Takeaway: Relationships can be tough, but having a dedicated space to work through your challenges can help. Couples counseling in Cincinnati can give you and your partner the support you need to build a happier, healthier relationship–or even part ways peacefully. Get in touch today to start the process.

Maybe you’re wondering if marriage counseling is the right choice for you. Your relationship is fine, isn’t it? Sure, there’s so much less sexual intimacy than there used to be, but that’s normal…right? And, even though you both have been through some pretty big life transitions, that doesn’t mean you have major issues. Or does it?

The average couple can really benefit from working with a marriage therapist. I’ve done relationship counseling for more than 20 years, and I know the powerful changes that can come from sitting in a non-judgmental space with an experienced marriage and family therapist. Couples can learn skills, manage stress and anxiety, understand their feelings, and strengthen their families.

Is couples Counseling for Us?

“I love you, but I’m not in love with you anymore.”

Maybe you’re feeling like you’ve tried everything and nothing works for very long. You might be feeling trapped in your relationship because of money, children, or others’ expectations. I bet you’re wondering if too much damage has been done…that things are irreparable.

It might not be bad enough to leave, but it’s so hard to stay!

When you’re unhappy in your relationship, you wonder how something that was once so good got to be so bad. You just can’t stop fighting about such ridiculous things!

You’re not alone or unusual. Most couples go through times like this, when they feel confused, frustrated, and fed-up.

Online relationship counseling services for couples in Ohio may be just what you and your partner need.

I’ve helped hundreds of Ohio couples have a healthier, closer, happier relationship with the person who means the most to them.

I’m hands-on in my approach, more like a coach than a stereotypical therapist. I “tell it like it is” in a way that doesn’t blame or shame, but gets to the heart of the matter quickly and kindly. Then, I give you the tools and understanding you need to make things better.

Get the support you need to help you find your way toward a better life. Even if you’re feeling lost now, I can help guide you in making lasting, positive changes through my unique approach to relationship counseling in Cincinnati, Ohio.

AFFAIRS AND BETRAYAL EMPTY NESTING REMARRIAGE AND STEP FAMILIES

HOW CINCINNATI MARRIAGE COUNSELING CAN HELP:

Reconnect with your partner.
Have better, more authentic sex.
Stop struggling to feel heard and understood.
Have a better idea of what makes each of you tick.
Feel like you’re on the same team again.

Meet Julie Hattershire | Cincinnati marriage counselor

Hi! I try to be the kind of couples therapist I’d want to see. I’m someone who uses my own life experiences and relationship challenges to help you and your romantic partner identify and tackle your relationship concerns. I keep it real, and I’m known to let out a few choice words sometimes, and my clients are encouraged to do the same.

I earned my undergraduate degree at Miami University, and had several non-profit fundraising and volunteer management jobs while I was raising my sons.While they were still pretty young, I had the opportunity to finally pursue my dream of being a therapist.

I earned my Master’s of Social Work from University of Cincinnati in 2001, and spent the next three years at Cancer Family Care, counseling cancer patients and their families. I learned so much about the resilience of the human spirit, the beauty of families reconnecting, and the importance of making life fulfilling and meaningful.

I take my responsibility to my clients and my profession seriously, but I take myself lightly. I am an easy therapist to work with: I laugh with my clients, I laugh at myself, I quote movies, TV shows and song lyrics. I am chatty and real in sessions; most people think therapy with me feels like a conversation with a trusted friend.

At their first appointment, new clients will find they appreciate my direct approach. I don’t mess around. I kindly, but straightforwardly, get right to the point. I’m not an, “Uh huh, uh huh, and tell me how you feel about that” kind of therapist.

I care very deeply about my clients, and give them my absolute best every session. I am a lucky, lucky girl to be able to do something I love so much and that has such a positive impact on the lives of others!

My approach to relationship counseling

Every marriage counselor in Cincinnati has a different way of working with clients. It can be important to identify the different options, so adults seeking marriage counseling for relationship problems know what they’re in for. Let me tell you about the different modalities I use in my practice.

Relational Life Therapy (RLT)

“RLT first reconnects people to themselves—their feelings, desires, and needs—and then reconnects them to their relationships. Traditional therapy heals through nurture, but this isn’t enough for permanent change. RLT goes even further, equipping people with the lifelong relational skills they need for lasting change.” You can learn more about RLT HERE.

Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)

EFT focuses on emotions and emotional communication in relationships and their influence on patterns of interaction. It also recognizes emotion as a powerful agent of change, rather than simply part of the relationship problem (Greenberg, 2015; Johnson, 2020). You can learn more about EFT HERE.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

“CBT is a short-term form of psychotherapy based on the idea that the way someone thinks and feels affects the way he or she behaves. The goal of treatment is to help clients identify, challenge, and change maladaptive thought patterns in order to change their responses to difficult situations.” You can learn more about CBT HERE.

Enneagram

While not technically a treatment modality, enneagram helps couples develop skills, address communication problems, and become solution focused not blame focused. Many marital issues can be attributed to personality differences, and enneagram helps partners develop an understanding of each other’s inner world. You can learn more about Enneagram HERE.

What If My Relationship Can’t Be Saved?

Sometimes, despite trying everything we know, relationships don’t work. If that happens, I can help you part ways with the least possible pain and anger. Especially if there are children involved, how you break up matters so much.

The end of a relationship is hard, no doubt about it, but it doesn’t have to leave lasting scars. Divorce counseling or end-of-relationship counseling can make all the difference.

Click here to learn more about Uncoupling

FAQs about couples counseling in Cincinnati

What kind of therapist is best for couples?

If you’re looking for marriage counseling in Cincinnati, it’s important to find someone who specializes in counseling people on their relationships. Couples therapists may do individual therapy focused on relationship issues, but they usually won’t do individual therapy with people for non-relationship related issues like anxiety, depression, or life transitions.

Whether you see a Social Worker, Counselor, or Marriage and Family Therapist, you’ll want someone who works with adults, has experience with infidelity, conflict management, issues faced by empty nesters, and family dynamics.

When looking for Cincinnati couples therapy, it’s important to understand that a counselor’s education and experience are only two parts of the puzzle. Equally important is the relationship between clients and therapist. Finding a good fit is the single most important factor for successful therapy.

What is the difference between couples therapy and couples counseling?

When you were looking for a therapist, I bet you used search terms like “marriage counselor Cincinnati”, “couples counseling Cincinnati”, “relationship counseling Cincinnati”, “marriage and family therapists Cincinnati”, “family therapist”, “marriage counselors”…the list is seemingly endless. And I bet you were wondering if there’s a difference between marriage counseling and marriage therapy. Let me explain.

The words counseling, therapy, counselor, and therapist are usually used interchangeably. Any of the mental health professions can (and do) offer therapy or counseling. While it used to be true that therapy was longer-term than counseling, that’s no longer the case. The words the clinician uses to describe what they do don’t really matter. I use both therapy and counseling regularly, so don’t get too hung up on the wording.

Is it healthy to go to couples therapy?

This is such a common question, and to be honest, it always puzzles me a little bit. People don’t ask if it’s healthy to see their dentist, or take their car to get an oil change, but they do wonder if relationship counseling is a good idea.

Pre-cohabitation or premarital counseling can help newer couples anticipate and deal with the stress of living together for the first time.
Partners can practice how to communicate effectively, and begin to get an understanding of each other’s experiences and feelings.
Empty nesters can remember how to be a couple again, not just parents.
Spouses can improve their intimacy, often reducing depression, anxiety, and stress.
Many couples look at marriage counseling in Cincinnati as helping them create a healthier life overall, by improving communication, strengthening their family, and giving guidance when they’re struggling.

When is marriage counseling not a good idea?

If there are untreated mental health issues, couples therapy might be a bad idea.
Most family therapists would say that active physical abuse could make couples therapy unsafe.
If there’s active substance abuse or dependence, that partner should work with a licensed professional clinical counselor to address that before doing couples counseling.
Marriage counseling is hard to do when one or both partners are involved in an affair. Active infidelity makes couples therapy unproductive.

Give your relationship the support it deserves.

Is this you?

You’re eager to figure out what’s been keeping you stuck.
You show initiative, follow through, and do the hard work to get to the root of what’s going on.
You’ll let me coach you. You want to change, and you’ll trust me to guide you.
You are committed to your own growth, as individuals and as part of a couple, and ready to give up old ideas and habits that are no longer serving you.
You’re so over the petty arguments and score-keeping.
You realize it’s time to do the work.

If this describes you and your partner, I’m here to help! Give me a call!