Rebuild Trust. Feel Close Again.
Are you stuck in the same fight or feeling more like roommates than partners? I help couples in Lake Charles and online across Louisiana and Texas calm conflict, rebuild trust, and reconnect with simple, proven steps.
Heal Together
Rebuild Trust
Strengthen Your Bond
Feeling Stuck in the Same Patterns? Do any of these sound familiar?
Small talks turn into big fights. Attempts to stay calm still end in the same loop.
You feel like roommates rather than partners. Affection and intimacy are thin.
Trust was damaged by secrecy, betrayal, or pornography and you do not know how to rebuild it.
One or both of you shuts down, avoids hard topics, or raises the volume to be heard.
Criticism, defensiveness, or stonewalling show up when you try to talk.
Important issues about money, parenting, sex, or family keep getting postponed.
You want to feel close again but do not have a clear first step.
Every relationship faces challenges, but they DO NOT have to define your future.
Whether you are rebuilding trust after a breach, tired of repeating the same arguments, or wondering how to feel close again, couples counseling gives you a calm, structured place to work through those problems together. Read how we typically begin, what to expect in early sessions, and how we set practical next steps that fit your life. Learn how we begin.
What to Expect in Couples Counseling
You may be tired of repeating the same fights and ready for a clearer path forward. Couples counseling offers a calm, structured place to try something different. I listen to your story, identify the cycle that keeps pulling you into the same argument, and guide you toward small, practical steps you can use between sessions to lower intensity and feel heard. This work is for couples who want a real plan, honest support, and clear next steps.
First session
We review your history as a couple and make sure we are on the same page about goals. Each of you has time to share what has been hard, what has helped in the past, and what you want to be different. I explain how sessions run, how we handle communication outside of sessions, and what to expect between visits. We also discuss pacing. Some couples begin weekly for a short time and then move to every other week. Others start every other week from the beginning. We decide that together based on your needs.
Early work
We begin by mapping the cycle you get pulled into during conflict. We name what starts it, how it builds, and what shuts it down. We look for cues in tone, body reactions, and the stories you tell yourselves about each other. Then we practice simple skills to lower intensity. That may include how to start a hard talk, how to pause before it escalates, and how to repair if feelings get hurt. The goal is a safer conversation where both of you feel heard.
Between sessions
You leave each session with one or two small steps to try at home. Think ten minutes, not an hour. A daily check in. A short way to say what you need. A restart plan if a talk stalls. We track what seems helpful so you can see what is changing. Homework stays practical so it fits real life.
Boundaries and privacy
I do not hold secrets for either partner. If something needs to be shared, we plan how to share it in a way that protects the process. Email and messages are kept transparent. If there are emotional or physical safety concerns, we start there and build a plan that protects everyone.
If trust was broken
We follow a clear repair path. First we stabilize and set boundaries. Next we work toward truth and understanding. Then we build consistent actions that support safety. When it fits, we outline a formal repair or disclosure process and set accountability that both of you agree to. The pace is steady and respectful of the injured or betrayed partner.
Timeline and rhythm
Many couples begin weekly for a short stretch to build momentum, then shift to every other week. Some prefer to start every other week. We decide in the first session and review the plan as we go. Couples often feel more hopeful once there is a plan and a few tools to try. Progress varies by couple and depends on practice, readiness, and life stress. We check in regularly, keep what helps, and adjust what does not.
What tends to support progress
Consistent practice of small steps between sessions
Openness and respect in the room
Honest feedback about what is and is not working
Clear boundaries, especially after betrayal
Patience with the pace of change
If you are searching for marriage counseling or couples counseling in Lake Charles, this is what starting together looks like. Structured. Compassionate. Focused on real change over time.
What We’ll Work on Together
Improving Communication – When words get tangled, you end up saying the wrong thing or not saying anything at all. We practice clear, practical ways to say what you need and to listen so your partner actually hears you. That includes short scripts for calm starts, reflection skills so you can check understanding, and simple routines for repairing a conversation after it derails. [See how better communication can help.]
Rebuilding Trust – Repairing trust starts with safety and clarity. We begin by stabilizing interactions with clear boundaries and transparency, then move into steps that help the injured partner feel safe again with truth, accountability, and consistent action. The pace is set together so both partners can participate without feeling overwhelmed. [Explore how trust is rebuilt over time.]
Strengthening Emotional Connection – Feeling like roommates usually means small daily moments of connection have been lost. We focus on tiny, repeatable habits that invite closeness: brief rituals, curiosity questions, and short shared experiences that rebuild positive moments. These practices help you remember why you wanted this relationship in the first place and create more opportunities for warmth and understanding. [Explore ways to rebuild closeness.]
Breaking Negative Patterns – Patterns like criticism, withdrawal, or escalation serve a function even when they hurt you. Together we name the cycles that keep pulling you back, learn what each pattern is trying to accomplish, and replace those moves with healthier alternatives you can actually use under stress. We track small wins and adjust as you practice new ways of connecting. [Explore how to break unhealthy relationship patterns.]
Creating a Shared Vision – Long-term closeness grows when you and your partner steer the relationship together instead of drifting apart. We work on practical planning that aligns values, parenting approaches, money priorities, and intimacy goals so decisions feel like shared choices. You leave with a concrete next step plan and a simple method for checking in and updating the plan over time. [Discover how to create a shared vision together.]
When You’re Ready, I’m Here
Therapy is a big step, but you don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re here in Lake Charles or connecting virtually from elsewhere in Louisiana or Texas, I’m ready to help you build a stronger, healthier relationship. Reach out, and let’s talk about what’s next.