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Couple Counseling: Is It Safe?

Gary Direnfeld

It’s not uncommon for me to decline a request for couple counseling. The reasons typically have to do with safety and/or substance use and/or serious mental health issues. Couple counseling can be an intense experience. Safety is code for concerns of domestic violence. Screening for these issues is never perfect.

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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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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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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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Counseling and Change

Gary Direnfeld

That is the objective of all counseling whether it is how one thinks, feels or behaves. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. Doing something different.

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Best books for mental health professionals

Save the Social Worker

Counselling: A Problem-Solving Approach (Anthony Yeo) Known as the father of counselling in Singapore, Anthony Yeo relates his experience of decades of counselling in this simple tome. Furthermore, it gives a local flavour to counselling in Asia, as many Western theories do not easily translate well into Singapore.

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Counseling? His Turn, Her Turn

Gary Direnfeld

He went to counseling just as she wanted. Check out all my services and then call me if you need help with a personal issue, mental health concern, child behavior or relationship, divorce or separation issue or even help growing your practice. He had to address his anger. He learned to take a break if conflict arose.