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Couple Counseling: Is It Safe?

Gary Direnfeld

It’s not uncommon for me to decline a request for couple counseling. Couple counseling can be an intense experience. When concerns are evident about the safety and integrity of couple counseling, individual counseling may be required to address the areas of concern to prepare the persons for couple counseling.

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Couple Counseling? Maybe in timeā€¦.

Gary Direnfeld

I recently declined two requests for couple counseling. Couple counseling can be an intense setting where issues are laid bare. Interestingly, in both cases the callers were prepared to continue with couple counseling despite their disclosures of untoward behavior. I suggested individual counseling in both cases.

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Think Beyond Counseling for Your Teen

Gary Direnfeld

While you or someone else may think a particular teen needs counseling, it doesn’t mean it will be helpful. Counseling is one of those things that simply works best when attended on a voluntary basis by someone who self-identifies a need as well as a desire. Think beyond counseling. Looks good, does nothing.

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Before Sending Your Kid to Counselingā€¦.

Gary Direnfeld

While I am pleased so many parents value counseling and want it for their kids, do know that it is not always helpful and indeed, can be harmful. Many kids interpret counseling as them having done something bad for which they must now talk to someone. Counseling in those situations won’t affect the cause.

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Counseling and Change

Gary Direnfeld

That is the objective of all counseling whether it is how one thinks, feels or behaves. gary@yoursocialworker.com www.yoursocialworker.com for counseling and support. He consults to mental health professionals as well as to mediators and collaborative law professionals about good practice as well as building their practice.

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Parenting Teens ā€“ Accept and manage your role as consultant.

Gary Direnfeld

The teen increasingly moves from seeing and accepting the patent as boss to seeing them more and more as a consultant. As a consultant, the teen takes the expectations of the parent under advisement and then knowing or unknowingly to the parent, makes their own decisions. That is simply part of the growing up process.

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Counseling? His Turn, Her Turn

Gary Direnfeld

He went to counseling just as she wanted. Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW gary@yoursocialworker.com www.yoursocialworker.com for counseling and support www.garydirenfeld.com ā€“ to build your successful practice Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. He had to address his anger. He learned to take a break if conflict arose.