Relationship Counseling

1. Couples counseling— Life planning for couples that involves dialoguing and processing strengths and challenges that have emerged or anticipated over the course of the relationship.
2. Affairs
   1. High opportunity/Low Involvement Affairs—This is the most common type of affair involving a one-night encounter, paid sex at a massage parlor or with a prostitute, or a high opportunity encounter at a convention or an out-of-town sales trip. Denial or rationalization of the affair is common.
   2. Compartmentalized, Ongoing Affair—This type of relationship involves some degree of emotional connection, but is not viewed as a competition to the marriage. This could include meeting once a month at a motel, seeing the person whenever you are in town for business, being sexual for two weeks once a year when your partner is out of town, or meeting for sex three times a year at a sales meeting. These types of affairs reinforce two adages: affairs are easier to get into than out of and the affair often becomes more involving and complicated than you intended.
   3. Comparison affair—This type of affair poses the greatest threat to the marriage for two reasons. First emotional and/or sexual needs are met in the affair, not in the primary relationship. Second, this is the most common female affair and the gender reversal is likely to destabilize the relationship.
3. Trust Issues
4. Family of origin issues—Rebuilding stronger individuals for stronger families
5. Addiction
   1. Food
   2. Sex (i.e. internet usage; compulsive masturbation; solicitation of prostitutes; massage parlors; gentleman/strip clubs; etc.)
   3. Recreational or prescription drugs
   4. Alcoholism
   5. Gambling
   6. Shopping/Spending
6. Self-esteem or Body image issues
7. Communication strategies and building emotional competence
8. Anger management
9. Sexual abuse counseling for victims and perpetrators
10. Alternative forms of sexual expression, identity, and/or orientation