Couples Counseling For Parents

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.This is one of the most challenging conversations for parenting partners to have without getting defensive. Parenting is hard. Parenting makes you both tired. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how the goal in this conversation is to understand what tired means for your partner and to try and make changes to support them. 

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.We hear this all the time: "My partner and I can't agree about parenting styles!" Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP share how to have this conversation as a parenting team rather than parenting adversaries. 

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.Many couples feel that they “lose” compatibility with their partner post-kids. “We used to agree on everything…We used to want to spend time together…We used to have the same goals…Now we can’t agree on anything (parenting styles, sleep, how the kids eat, in-laws etc)…We don’t even want to be around each other we are so tired and just want to sleep…It feels like we don’t want the same things anymore.” Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss the radical change that parenting brings to a partner relationship and how to keep discovering your compatibility as parenting partners. 

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.What advice would you and your partner give your younger couple selves? Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell MACP discuss some of the advice couples have said they wish they knew back then.  Also, they will share their personal thoughts about what advice they would share with their younger couples selves.  

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.Parenting is chaotic and stressful. Stress is overwhelming. Overwhelmed people act overwhelmed. They shut down, numb, distract, get hyper vigilante, feel angry, spin out of control in the whirlwind of their thoughts, and generally find it difficult to connect with others. How can parenting partners navigate the day-to-day stress of parenting and still feel connected?  Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP offer couples the "magic formula" for staying connected in the everyday stress of parenting. 

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.How can parenting partners navigate the moment in their relationship when one says to the other, “I don’t think we are doing okay and I want to get some help,” and their partner responds, “We are fine, things are not that bad.” This is not an uncommon occurrence for many parenting partners or any couple for that matter. It taps into both partner's vulnerability. Stephen Mitchell, PhD and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how this conversation can be one of connection rather than conflict. 

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.Mother's Day is coming this weekend and for many parenting partners the day can feel a bit intimidating and potentially disappointing. What makes for a meaningful Mother's Day and how can partners make sure they make the mom to their kids feel special? Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss the one key component needed to have a great Mother's Day. 

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.One of the many things that changes when couples move into the parenting years is their sex life. One of the primary things that influences a couple's sex life is each partner's personality. Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP talk about how being introverted or extroverted can shape parenting partners conversations about sex and how much sex they have. 

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.Yes, for many this little phrase can be triggering for the "well" partner that hears it and triggering for the "sick" partner that says it. What is behind this simply little phrase causing so much disconnection in a parenting partner relationship? Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP unpack some of the stories that might be informing this common parenting partner dynamic and offer some practical ways to stay connected when one partner says "I am feeling sick." 

Got a question, comment, or just want to drop some encouragement? Send us a text.Parenting is a never ending river of tasks, responsibilities, worries, joy, tender moments, tears, comical exchanges etc. Parenting is constant and in the constancy of parenting many couples find themselves trying to survive the day and get to the next day. This survival mentality makes it hard to communicate and with this many things get left unsaid. These unsaid things begin to pile up and morph into resentments that emerge in passive aggressive communication. Dr. Stephen Mitchell and Erin Mitchell, MACP discuss how to break this cycle of communication and connect as parenting partners.