E. Lynn Marlow, Ph.D. has been providing individual psychotherapy and relationship counseling through her own independent practice for 20 years. Her work with couples honors and respects deep connection and commitment, and enables each couple to create and define their relationship, enhancing personal growth along with the growth of their emotional bond. Click here to read a more detailed biography of Dr. Marlow.

In couples therapy, the therapist's client is the relationship. She becomes an observer and guide, providing feedback on relationship dynamics, and instruction in the skills of healthy communication and interaction.

At the start of her work with a new couple, Dr. Marlow will first give each partner an opportunity to express his or her concerns, frustrations, and ideas for change. She looks for areas of commonality and connection, refreshing a couple's affection and commitment to one another, and guiding them to live up to both through honesty, respect, and openness.

Gathering a thorough family history is an important part of the assessment phase of relationship counseling. Dr. Marlow explores family patterns, roles, and expectations, and often helps couples to understand better their partners, and the patterns of their own relationship, in the context of family functioning.

Couples therapy does not attempt to lay blame, or to choose a "bad guy." We all have had the experience of behaving inappropriately, or of saying hurtful things to the one we love, and no one deserves to be judged. She patiently exposes the fears, anger and uncertainties that often underly dysfunctional patterns, and offers couples new and more loving ways of expressing those feelings.

While psychotherapy gives individuals a safe space in which to challenge themselves and grow more authentic and complex, relationship therapy gives two people the opportunity to take that kind of personal growth to another level, sharing it with another, deepening their self acceptance and acceptance of each other, and adding dimensions of trust, affection, and commitment.

A deep, loving relationship is a challenge, sometimes frustrating, and often hard work. But there is truly nothing better than to be fully known and accepted by someone you hold dear. The very difficult work of letting down walls and surrendering to shared life is the only path to the deepest, most satisfying and everlasting connection.

Dr. Marlow welcomes all couples into her office, and celebrates the deep commitment between two loving adults. Dr. Marlow welcomes couples in or out of marriage, couples of mixed race or faith, gay and lesbian couples, couples just starting their life together, or couples contemplating divorce. If you hold a desire to improve the relationship, the willingness to examine and change your own behavior, and the energy to engage fully in the process of relationship therapy, then positive change and growth cannot help but occur. Dr. Marlow would be honored to work with you to bring it about.

If you have any questions about therapy with Dr. Marlow, or whether or not your relationship could benefit from work with her, please call or email, and she would be happy to answer your questions.

 

 

 

 

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