Loni Stookey, LMFT
THERAPY Services
LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST
Premarital and NEwly Wed Counseling
Let’s talk about sex.
And in-laws. And chores. And school. And money. And fighting. And babies. And holidays. And sex.
And lets do it early in the relationship so we don’t set patterns of harmful communication that haunt us for the next 50 years! Getting counseling early and often in the beginning of a marriage can establish a strong tradition of unity to weather the inevitable ups and downs that storm through every relationship from time to time.
(Premarital and Newly-Wed Counseling is a great Wedding Gift!)
Women's issues
Alright sisters. I know it can be a jungle out there, and sometimes we get lost trying to keep up with the monkeys (or running from the jaguars). Whether you are a young adult, mother, single woman, or have an empty nest, there are challenges at each stage. You are capable of handling them. Many women come to therapy and discover what their superpowers are, create a life they are excited about, and learn what is important enough to spend time on and what is not. Common issues clients bring in include:
-Mom-life challenges
-Sexuality
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Parenting
-Lack of Identity
-Lack of Self confidence
-Trauma
-In-law challenges
-Relationship issues
Therapy can be a place of support, discovery, and challenge for women ready to tame the jungle they live in, (or at least learn how to survive in it).
Marriage Therapy
It has been said that your spouse is either your greatest blessing or your greatest trial! Either way, couples who want to improve a good marriage or save one that is spiraling downward can get help. It takes patience and self-reflection to alter communication patterns and to create a respectful, emotionally-safe relationship. In Marriage Therapy, couples will learn:
-Which destructive tools they are using individually to harm their relationship
-What hurt their partner is experiencing that they may not be aware of
-How they can build more respect into the relationship
-How to listen and understand each other in a healthier way
-What their individual “Emotional Storms” look like and how those storms are causing problems personally and in the relationship
-How to understand their partner’s love language in a detailed, effective way
-How to stay connected through a crisis of faith.
Strong marriages require enough humility to recognize one’s own faults and a willingness to keep trying when we are hurt. Individuals who enter marriage therapy wanting to look at their own contributions to problems first, typically do well.
Individuals whose partner is not willing to come to therapy can often alter and improve the marriage system to some extent on their own and are encouraged to come even if they must do so alone.
Sex therapy
Most couples have problems with sex at point or another during their marriage. As bodies, life circumstances and emotions change through the years, different issues may arise. Getting help with the following issues can increase marital satisfaction for years to come.
-Questions about Sexual Function and anatomy
-Lack of desire, pleasure or interest in sex
-Difficulty talking to your partner about sex
-Sexual pain
-Dissatisfaction with emotional connection related to sex in your relationship
For some clients, sex is a difficult topic to discuss. Therapy is a confidential place where issues can find light and be understood. This is an area that can be surrounded in hurt and misunderstanding for couples. Along with relationship therapy, many couples find connection in and out the bedroom that they have been missing.
Faith
Questions about faith come up for many of us. This can be an emotional time of loss and identity crisis. In relationships, there is often a lot of fear surrounding possible changes in faith and what that means for the family. Whether you need help personally or with your marriage, therapy can provide support and structure to hold together the core of who you are through this time. (I am an active member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
Other Issues
Research shows that the most influential factor in therapy is the connection between the therapist and client. If you think we might be a good fit but what you need help with isn't listed, please call or email to discuss your situation.
