When to Seek Marriage Counseling

There’s no wrong time to seek marriage counseling. Rather, it’s best to make regular therapy sessions a habit in your marriage. This could mean meeting together with a therapist every couple months or as frequently as once a week.

Seek Marriage Counseling From the Start

No matter where you are in your relationship, seeking marriage counseling or couples counseling from the start will form a foundation between you and your significant other from which you can then grow. Most conflict in relationships stems from our own individual attachment patterns. Our attachment styles are formed in the first twelve months of life and reinforced throughout childhood and adolescence. These adaptions are wired into the nervous system and body and are outside of conscious awareness for the most part. During conflict, a couple attempts to resolve the topic of contest but their attachment styles conflict and sabotage their efforts.

How Marriage Counseling Works

Seeking marriage counseling before you tie the knot will help you and your significant other identify one another’s attachment styles so that when conflict does arise you are better equipped to alleviate the other’s needs. In marriage counseling, we work to identify the attachment styles and developmental wounds that trigger trauma in both partners. Then, the reparative behavior or unmet need from the attachment wound is identified and these same interactions now become healing moments, rather than the re-traumatizing ones.
Couple’s and marriage counseling will involve sessions which will help both you and your partner identify specific relationship challenges, as well as relationship strengths which are then incorporated into a customized treatment plan. This treatment plan will help you work on issues in a neutral environment – together.
Seek marriage counseling now and experience an increased capacity for emotional expression and intimacy in your relationship. Call (561)797-0631 or visit our website for more information.

Affairs + Technology

Are affairs becoming a more acceptable practice in society? The rate of affairs and cheating in marriages is growing at an alarming rate. According to a recent study conducted by The Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 41% of marriages reported cheating on their spouses both emotionally and physically. The average length of the affairs was recorded at two years.

With the progression of technology introducing new tools to make cheating and secrecy easier than ever many spouses find themselves caught in the web of painful affairs. Sites like Ashley Madison & How to Have an Affair offer troubled couples an escape while promising complete anonymity. 

As life unravels so do the traces of infidelity and betrayal. Often when the betrayer approaches the betrayed to disclose the affair a wave of emotions surfaces. The combination of shock, anger and disappointment felt by the betrayed partner acts is an active ingredient when mixed with the uncertainty, shame and regret felt by the betrayed. These stories sometimes play themselves out in unhealthy interactions sometimes leading to physical altercations.

Unfortunately, many marriages are unable to recover from the damage the affair has created. We believe that seeking professional counseling after your affair could possibly save your marriage. The affair recovery process is complex and challenging. It requires a strong commitment to addressing deeply rooted issues and a resolve to work at repairing the damage that has been done. 

Have you experienced an affair in your marriage? If you're seeking professional guidance for the recovery of your marriage contact us today.

How to Rebuild Your Spouse's Trust After An Affair

Cheating damages loving relationships and breaks trust. After an extramarital affair has occurred, the relationship is often so strained that one or both parties may consider ending the marriage. Emotional infidelity can be just as devastating to the relationship as a physical affair, and research shows that least one or both parties in half of all couples will break their vows of sexual or emotional exclusivity during the lifetime of the relationship.

Here at Gateway Counseling, we specialize in affair recovery counseling. Let us help you resolve any issues in your marriage and restore your peace of mind. The most recent threat to marriage appears innocently at first- friendships at work or online that cross the blurred line into romantic love. For both sides- the betrayed and the partner who committed the infidelity- this can be a very traumatic and painful time.

If you participated in an affair and want to save your marriage now, please call Gateway Counseling at 561-797-0631. Your first appointment will be a free consultation where we assess your infidelity issue, inform you of how we would begin the recovery process, and discuss how comfortable you are with your therapist. Afterward, sessions are scheduled based on your need- everyone is different.

Our experienced staff are here for you,

Gateway Counseling

How to Break Free From Post Holiday Blues

The holidays are over, and New Year's celebrations have become last week's event. Parents and relatives have gone back home, and the greenery and ornaments have been put away until next year. For many of us, its time to go back to work after an extended week of holiday vacation. But is everyone ready to resume their normal routine?

After all the holiday parties and exchanging of gifts, it can be a little hard to find something to look forward to in the beginning of the year. This type of gloom is actually normal, but if you find that your mood is affecting your quality of work or your relationship with coworkers, family, and friends, it may be time to reach out and talk to someone.

The reason why post-holiday depression is typical is because of something called "seasonal affective disorder", or SAD. SAD is a type of depression that occurs in the winter season, when the days grow short and a lack of sunlight deprives people of their usual amount of Vitamin D. For those of us spending long days in the office, without any sun, depression can run rampant. Be sure to take time out of your work day to soak in some sun! If possible, have lunch outside, take a walk around the building or down the street. Just being outside for 30 minutes can do wonders for your mood.

If you find yourself struggling to meet deadlines or keep up with your job's demands after the holidays, you may be stuck in a post-holiday funk. Here at Gateway Counseling Center, our counselors are always here to help you.

Happy January,

Gateway Counseling
www.gatewaycounseling.com
561-797-0631

Tips To Prevent Stress and Depression During the Holidays

The holiday season tends to bring on feelings of depression, stress, and anxiety. The National Center for Health Statistics indicates a 15% increase in the number of individuals who actively seek help for emotional disorders during the month of December. Experts attribute this sudden spike in stress to heightened seasonal demands including shopping for gifts, hosting parties, and reuniting with family. Instead of letting the holidays bring you down, follow a few simple steps to battle your stress triggers before they have a chance to snowball out of control.

• Accept Your Feelings
• Clear Your Mind and Just Breathe
• Take Some Time For Yourself
• If You Feel Lonely, Seek Out Support In The Community
• Create a Plan For Activities and Shopping Lists
• Stick To a Budget; Money Can't Buy Happiness.
• Accept Family and Friends As They Are
• Be Understanding If Others Get Upset or Distressed
• It's OK to Say No If You're Feeling Overwhelmed
• Hold On To Healthy Habits; Get Plenty of Sleep and Exercise
• Find New Ways To Celebrate Old Traditions
• Take Off The Pressure: The Holidays Don't Have To Be Perfect
• Seek Professional Help

Remember, here at Gateway Counseling Center, we're here to help you year-round. If you live in the Palm Beach area and are experiencing holiday blues, feel free to give us a call at 561-797-0631.

Grief and Loss; What To Expect When A Loved One Dies

In the event of a death in the family or even the disappearance of a parent in a child's daily life, in divorce, grief begins to set in. Other events that can trigger the highly personalized process (just to name a few) include the loss of a job, beloved pet, lifelong dream, the end of a relationship, and onset of a major illness in a loved one. It is vital not to fight the process, but to allow it to run its course and unfold in its own time.

You may recognize the "Stages of Grief" model from psychology class. The stages occur in no specific order, varying with each unique individual.

1. Denial

You struggle to believe what has just happened, and it doesn't yet seem real. If someone you love has died, you may expect them to walk through the door as though nothing has changed, even though you know they cannot.

2. Bargaining or Guilt

"If only I had..." "I wish I told them..." Common statements expressing regret about things left unsaid, undone, or that could have been done differently arise at this stage in the process, even if nothing could have been helped. You may feel guilty about feelings of relief after a long and difficult illness.

3. Acceptance & Sadness

Often the longest stage in the grief process, deep sadness is also the most universally experienced symptom of grief. During this time you may experience crying and emotional instability.

4. Anger

The loss doesn't seem fair, and someone has to be blamed for it. You may be angry with yourself, God, the doctors, or even the person who died for leaving you. Blaming someone or something for a heavy loss is the redirection sadness into anger.

5. Fear

Losing a loved one can incite a host of fears concerning your own mortality, facing life without that person, or new responsibilities you now face alone.

The most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of others. If your level of grief is more than your support system can assist with, get in touch with us to speak with one of our therapists.

Is Depression Becoming an Issue?

Is depression becoming an issue for you? Are you feeling down most or all of the time? It may be the right time to seek some counseling and reassurance from Gateway Counseling Center. We are located in Boynton Beach, Florida, and we specialize in helping people cope with depression issues. We would like to help you too!

Gateway Counseling Center is well known for helping people in their times of need. Emotional distress is a real factor for many people, and you are not alone if you feel that you may be depressed. Struggling withdepression is a serious battle, and we can help you identify some of the factors in your life that may need to change.

You’re not alone, and we are here to listen to what you have to say. Call Gateway Counseling Center today for a complimentary consultation. We are looking forward to your call! Our phone number is 561-797-0631.