Dr. Steven Lazarus is an expert child psychologist and teen psychologist in Littleton, CO. This page is dedicated to giving parents different parenting strategies in their work with their children and teenagers.

Child Psychologists in Littleton Debate: Is Play Therapy Just Playing? Is Talk Therapy Just Talking?

Young children with behavioral or emotional problems are often referred for play therapy. Littleton’s child behavior psychologists and play therapists know that play is a language in and of itself, and is the natural way that children engage with and connect with the world. But many parents observe a play therapy session, or hear their child talking about their play therapy activities and ask “are you just playing?” Keep reading to see why play therapy is so much more than “just playing.”

Play as Language

If you’ve ever watched a group of young children, you know that they don’t really converse like adults do. Yes, they talk (often non-stop!), but few kindergarteners will sit across from a peer and say “hello friend, how was your day? Have you seen the weather lately?” In fact, when kids want to engage, they usually start with a familiar phrase: “want to play?” Even adults hate small talk, so kids skip it entirely, moving onto the best interaction there is: imaginative play. Play is the language that kids use to communicate. It is about doing, not saying, about moving, not thinking. Play allows children to explore and investigate safely—like VR, but driven only by imagination. Play therapists in Littleton use this imagination space to learn and grow. Play has been credited with improving emotional regulation, learning, self-confidence, and socialization. “Just” play!

Is Talk Therapy Just Talking?

Here’s a parallel: Is talk therapy just talking? When adults visit a psychologist in Littleton, they talk and talk and talk. Do you remember being a small child and thinking this was all adults did? For most neurotypical adults, talking is the preferred mode of communication. Most adults would feel very uncomfortable if they were asked to re-enact their conflict at work using puppets, or to fingerpaint a picture of how their spouse made them feel—just like many kids feel very uncomfortable when they are asked to talk about their hard day at school. Psychologists are specially trained to listen and communicate, whether their clients talk with words, actions, or play.

Indirect Instruction Works

Does your child lash out physically and hit others, even though you have never used physical punishment? Can she list a thousand coping skills, but use none of them? Is he manipulative and cruel to friends, even though you’ve only showered your family with love? Direct instruction works well for skills like reading and math, but humans pick up their relationship, conflict resolution, and coping skills from all over the place. You can drill multiplication facts into someone’s head but making them repeat coping skills endlessly does nothing. Instead, providing opportunities for indirect instruction, practice, and supportive skills (such as self-regulation, self-efficacy, and flexibility) can make these tools more useful. Self-directed or child-directed play helps children to plan, predict, and develop executive function skills in a safe, pretend setting.

Play therapy is the preferred treatment for children 7 and younger, and elements of play therapy are beneficial when working with people with learning or intellectual differences, trauma histories, and people who struggle with speech. If your young child has behavioral or emotional regulation problems, or if you have been referred to a child psychologist, see if your therapist uses elements of play therapy.

 

 

/by
, ,

What is Executive Functioning, and How do Psychologists Help Kids With ADHD Build These Tools?

Does it ever seem like your child is so “checked out,” “disorganized,” or “unfocused” that they don’t know whether they are coming or going? This happens to everyone—on occasion. However, for adults and children with ADHD, this is the everyday state of affairs. While only the best psychiatrists and psychologists in Highlands Ranch typically diagnose ADHD, parents and teachers usually notice challenges way sooner. The problem lies in the executive functioning capabilities, which include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-regulation. It’s what helps us manage our time, plan our tasks, and get everything done, just by remembering. Some people call it the “secretary of the brain,” because, when it works well, it functions just like a business secretary would!

However, for people with ADHD, the secretary is always “out to lunch.” Without that important feature, the brain starts to get scattered, disorganized, and misses appointments! For an adult, this may look like missing bills, being late all the time, or never being able to keep the house clean. For kids, this turns into incomplete homework, missing easy items on tests, “daydreaming,” and can sometimes make a child look like he is “not-listening” on purpose. For the kid who is distracted by “everything and nothing,” executive functioning skills need a boost! How does your child psychologist in Littleton help your children boost these skills? With practice and carefully planned tools, of course!

One of the first things your psychologist will do when he or she starts working with your child is to help him identify his emotions. Having a strong understanding of how feelings and functioning connect is a good starting point, because nobody’s executive functioning skills are good when their emotions are too high. This often includes exploring where these feelings happen in the body, and what can make them better or worse. Once your child is on his way to keeping his feelings and body in check, other tools can be added to build memory, organization, and focus tools. Just like training a new employee, kids have to train their brains to work in new ways, and a psychologist in Littleton is a great trainer! Through activities like planning and organizing crafts, practicing mindfulness and meditation, completing puzzles and projects, your child will learn how to flex these “brain muscles” and keep their attention in control—instead of letting it control them. Play therapy can be a great way to engage kids in their own process.

If your child is struggling greatly with time planning, organization and decision-making, focus and attention, distraction, or “listening” when told what to do, ask yourself if their “executive secretary” may be out to lunch for good, then call a child psychologist in Highlands Ranch to start the next steps!

 

 

/0 Comments/by

These Tools Can Help You Solve Conflicts in Your Relationship

Are you having conflict in your marriage? Do you and your partner end every day at each other’s throats, only to cry together before giving up and going to bed? Do you put in extra hours at work, take the pandemic puppy for longer walks, or take a “nap” just to avoid conflict with your spouse? If so, couples therapists in Littleton have some news for you: you are not alone! Research shows that most couples experience conflict in their relationship on a regular basis, and this conflict is worsened by transitioning to new parenthood, new jobs, moving to new homes, and major social changes—like the COVID-19 pandemic! Conflict itself isn’t a bad thing, but how you handle it can shape your relationship. Check out these great tools to help resolve relationship conflict!

Active Listening

You yell, you argue… but does either one of you listen? Active listening can be a challenge, especially when you know you’re right! However, this process involves both physical and mental activity, meaning you need to show your partner good eye contact, appropriate body language, and attention to detail. An active listener always waits until her or his partner has stopped speaking before talking, and should be able to summarize the other person’s words before moving onto the next point. Check out these four tips for active listening!

Time Out!

It’s not just for kids, the relationship time-out is a tried-and-true method that couples therapists in Highlands Ranch use all the time. When you have a “time-out” during your relationship conflict, you aren’t just going to your room to calm down (although, that might be a part of it!), you are recognizing that you are not in a place to communicate your true feelings. Couples therapists recommend that you and your partner discuss this process in advance, and when strong feelings come up, either party can call for a time-out. Always plan a “return time” and don’t let it go too long—the goal is to allow both parties to collect themselves and think more clearly without avoiding the conflict entirely.

Put it in Writing

While it may seem silly to write a note to someone you share a home and a bed with, the written word is powerful. When you write out your thoughts, you have plenty of time to think, and the opportunity to cross out, erase, or start over! If you find yourself blurting out impulsive statements, offensive things, or just feel like your partner isn’t listening, a written message can go a long way. If you come in for relationship counseling in Littleton, your couples therapist may have you both write your ideas before sharing them.

These are just a few of the many tools that you can use to build your relationship stronger! If you’ve tried these and more without success, you may need the assistance of a couples therapist. In Littleton, expert couples therapists work with couples at all stages of their relationship using tools from family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and animal assisted therapy to help you see eye to eye. Call Dr. Steve Lazarus today to start repairing your relationship!

 

 

/0 Comments/by
,

Try These Tools To Help Your Child Break Bad Habits

Has your child picked up a bad habit lately? From swearing, to using baby talk past an appropriate age, to whining, to nibbling on fingers and lips and objects, parents are constantly trying to help their children shape their behaviors into something that is socially appropriate. When problems become distressing enough, and are interfering with normal socialization, schoolwork, or self-care, parents often seek the help of a child behavior psychologist in Littleton. Before you start, or while you’re working with a child psychologist, try these tips to help your child break bad habits!

  1. Bring it out into the open.

The first step to overcoming a bad habit is to recognize and accept that it is happening. Don’t shame your child or approach him with anger, simply point out what is happening when you are both calm. For example, if your kindergartener’s endless baby talk is driving you up a tree, you could say something like “you know that voice you use that makes mommy really frustrated? That baby voice? You use that voice almost every day after school, and I want to help you use your big boy voice, like you do at school.” When a play therapist in Highlands Ranch meets with a child for the first time, they spend a lot of time simply describing what they see.

  1. Make a collaborative plan.

Work WITH your child to make a plan to eliminate this behavior. This may include a verbal or visual warning to help your child notice when she is showing this behavior (older kids who would be embarrassed with reminders may be more open to a visual warning, like a hand signal, that their friends don’t know about). It can include big or little rewards, like a sticker on the sticker chart each day, or a trip to a favorite park. It depends on what your child needs, wants, and responds to. Positive reinforcement usually works better than punishment—you want to get this bad habit out of your child’s mind, not make it seem like a looming threat. If you are already working with a behavior psychologist, consult with them as well!

  1. Teach (and practice) a replacement behavior.

Remember, whatever bad habit your child has gotten himself into began for a reason. Many bad habits serve an important purpose. Talk with your child to find a replacement behavior that meets that same need, without the annoying habit. For example, if your child curses all the time, help him to think of other, more appropriate ways to say the same thing. Humor is a great tool here—younger kids will love coming up with silly, creative terms to use as “insults” or expressions of frustration. That’s what play therapists in Highlands Ranch do when we tackle tough issues through play! If your child loves to nibble her nails or chew on her mask, introduce approved chewing tools or go for a classic stick of gum for those old enough to chew safely.

  1. Keep your role in mind.

As a parent, your goal is not to “make” your child behave properly 24/7. You guide, advise, teach, remind, and supervise, even through the (many) mistakes that occur. Expect your child to slip up, make errors, and even to backslide after weeks of good progress. This is normal. Keep drawing attention gently to the undesired behaviors, redirect the child to the appropriate replacement behavior, and reward the good when it happens.

This sounds easy, but nothing is as easy in real life as it is in a blog! If your child is struggling with bad habits you can’t break, if you need more help, or if there are ever any safety concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to a skilled child psychologist.

 

 

/0 Comments/by
, ,

What is Play Therapy, and How Does it Help My Child?

For adults and older children, most of the best psychologists are using well-known, evidence-based practices, like cognitive behavioral therapy. These “talk therapy” methods use tried-and-true methods of changing thinking patterns to help people live a fuller, healthier life, by helping people understand their actions, reactions, and thoughts. But have you ever asked a preschooler “why” she did something? From punching the kid sitting next to her, to crying for hours after dropping a penny, your child may not know why. This could be because she lacks the language to express the feelings, doesn’t remember, or just doesn’t understand cause and effect like adults do. Fortunately, there are many other ways to help children understand and work through their problems. Play therapy services in Littleton can help your child process tough situations and manage feelings, even when they can’t “talk” about them. Keep reading to find out why!

Language is not their first language.

Just like all mammals, humans play as soon as they are able. In fact, most children start playing years before they speak, and continue to play heavily as their verbal skills grow. Adults may be familiar with learning a second language, but most of us don’t remember what it was like before we had words to structure our lives. For young children, play fills this void. Play helps a child to explore the world around him, to test limits, and to communicate without the words they haven’t learned yet. In children’s play therapy in Highlands Ranch, you may never hear your child use the word “angry.” But when The Hulk smashes everything in sight, the mommy doll throws the baby doll out the window, or a giant elephant stomps all over the city, your child is likely trying to master and understand the feeling of anger. Concrete, hands-on representations of emotions are the natural way for children to communicate.

Hush up and listen!

Lots of parents say “I just wish my child would open up to me!” Imagine if you tried to tell someone about your problems, but they would only listen if you spoke in a silly, made-up accent. Every time you tried to speak, they cut you off with an irrelevant question, or corrected you, or told you “we’re not talking about that, now!” Most people would shut down very quickly. Unfortunately, this is what children constantly live with. Their little brains are just figuring out how to make connections between concepts, and how to keep unrelated things separate, but they need practice. Everything is personal, and if they must jump through too many hoops to get their point across, they usually won’t. Play removes these limits, allowing children to communicate to their best abilities. When they realize that an adult listens to them ramble about their favorite Pokémon, their fluffy pets, or the really, cool thing they saw at the store the other day, they know that this is an adult that will listen. Once the barriers are removed, the child can feel more comfortable talking about anything and everything.

Play therapy is usually used with children 7 and younger but has shown strong promise in the research for children with learning differences, ADHD, and those on the autism spectrum. In fact, some psychologists are looking into play-based therapy for adults! If you have a young child, or even an older child who has struggled to connect with behavior-based or cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy is an important option. Contact a skilled child psychologist in Littleton today and help your child play their way to happiness!

 

 

/0 Comments/by
,

Handle The Stress Of Holiday Planning During a Pandemic With These Tips

It seems hard to believe, but we are about to enter the holiday season in the middle of a global pandemic! As if this time of year wasn’t already stressful enough, you have to try to plan your season around the risk of illness. How can you manage the stress, and how can you keep your relationship strong through the challenges? Highlands Ranch couples therapists share top tips!

Tip #1: Embrace the Difference. The 2020 holiday season will not look like seasons of the past—it just can’t. Instead of feeling angry or sad about the changes, try to embrace the differences. Does your family go on vacation for the holidays every year? Maybe this will be the year to start a new tradition. Do you always dread having the family stay at your house for days? That Zoom dinner might sound a lot better! Certainly, there are things that will be missed, but new opportunities are always available. If the changes are affecting your relationship, this is a great time to seek counseling and couples therapy. Couples psychologists in Littleton are available in-person and by telemedicine to help you have a stronger relationship and a better holiday season.

Tip #2: Feel the Grief. Just because you appreciate the new opportunities doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t grieve the loss of your normal experience. During the Thanksgiving holiday, you want to make sure to give thanks, but don’t feel locked into good feelings. From lives to jobs to security, many people have lost things during this pandemic, and it is okay to grieve. Talk with your partner about how the changes have affected your relationship, and give yourself the time you need as a couple and as an individual to process and come to terms with this grief.

Tip #3: Enjoy Home. For most people, this year’s holiday season will be spent at home, with members of the same household, like you’ve probably been doing for months. Make sure your home is as enjoyable as possible by clearing up clutter, adding some festive decorations, and maybe even splurging on some new entertainment if it is in the budget. Practice gratitude and consider all the good things you have in your life—even if it is far different than before.

Tip #4: Cut some Slack. 2020 has been a great year to practice self-care and compassion—for yourself! Keep this vibe up through the holiday season and remember to take time to relax. If you hate cooking, order catering, or let the kids try their hand at making dinner (with supervision for younger ones). Maybe your house isn’t as full of relatives as you would like, maybe the meal isn’t a 5-star success, maybe you end up feeling like it is “just another day.” In any case, use positive self-talk to remind yourself that you are doing the best you can. Support your partner by giving these same reminders, and try to let the little things go—for you, and for others.

The holiday season is always stressful, and never more so than during a pandemic! It is normal to be very “in your feelings” during these times. If you find yourself feeling more angry than usual, wishing your partner would just go live in someone else’s quarantine bubble, or if you just can’t communicate, consider visiting an expert couples therapist in Littleton to help work through these issues. Dr. Steve, psychologist in Littleton, has helped many couples to work through challenges and come out stronger in the future. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help when you need it!

 

 

/0 Comments/by
,

These Fun Games Help Your Child Build Focus Skills

One of the biggest challenges that today’s children—and adults—face is staying focused. From helping children with ADHD pay attention in class, to building the deep attention skills needed to do critical analysis and complex work, concentration and focus skills are so important. In fact, many parents in Highlands Ranch seek ADHD counseling because their son or daughter “just can pay attention.” In a world where screens, advertisements, and a hundred other things are vying for their attention, how can you help your child focus? These fun games are a great start!

I Spy

Remember the classic road-trip game? “I Spy” can be a fun way to build focus skills while also encouraging your child to pay attention to the world around them. Even better, it helps to promote some social skills, such as following gaze (that trick you used where you would watch the other person’s eyes to see what they were “spying”), listening carefully, and giving and receiving feedback. For younger kids, start with easy items—the clothing they are wearing, big pieces of furniture, and so on. For younger kids, this game can be even more fun when you focus on tiny details—the button on their sleeve, the decorative ornament hanging in the doorway, little details.

Find It or Hidden Object Games

Whether you clip a hidden object scene from the weekly newspaper or hook your kiddo up with a cool app, games that ask kids to find hidden objects, spot differences between two pictures, or anything else that promotes carefully attention can be a fun way to boost these skills. Child psychologists in Littleton sometimes give these sorts of fun, skill-boosting activities as homework, because it helps build on the very skills we want to help kids learn—close attention, focus, and commitment.

Card Games

No matter what card games your family loves, it can be a great way to teach kids to focus. You can buy a set of pre-made game cards, or explore classics like Go Fish, Crazy 8s, or War with any old deck of cards you have lying around. The important part is that the child needs to pay attention to when it is their turn and what cards are being played. For older kids who don’t mind play “consequences,” a fun rule is to skip anyone who isn’t paying attention on their turn (make sure to let yourself “unfocus” and miss a few turns yourself to make it fair). For younger kids, you can focus more on the strategy of the game—a little card counting won’t get them kicked out of the family card game, and will make everything more interesting.

Does your child have difficulty focusing and paying attention? If so, there are a number of ways to help her get back on track so she can enjoy her schooling and recreation time. While some kids may have an underlying condition that makes it hard to focus, like ADHD or anxiety, many kids are simply caught up in our everyday world of stimulation and distraction. Help them flex their focus-muscles with some fun and games! If your child seems to have an extraordinary challenge staying focused, and it is interfering with school or daily living, call a child behavior psychologist in Littleton for more help.

/0 Comments/by
, ,

This is How to Breathe Easier in Your Mask

Love them or hate them, masks are becoming ubiquitous during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite conflicting messages put out by public health officials earlier in 2020, leaders and individuals are quickly recognizing the utility of masks, and more cities, states, and businesses are requiring that masks or other facial coverings be worn. For many, things introduces a huge challenge: the feeling that you can’t breathe. Fortunately, your trusted psychologist in Littleton has some tips to help you breathe easier with tools we use in our everyday practice.

Balance Acceptance and Control

In any situation, we can choose to accept the challenges or try to change them. However, we can only change what we are in control of. What are you in control of when you wear a mask? While it may seem like this choice is “forced” upon you, keep in mind that you still have control of when you go out for recreation and what style of mask or facial covering you wear. Remind yourself that you don’t have to like it, you just have to do it. Explore different types of materials and fastening styles (for example, behind the ears, around the head, wrapped into a creative hair style) and see what feels the least uncomfortable. Increase your feeling of control by choosing a facial covering that suits you.

Practice Deep Breathing

It sounds cliché, but your breathing affects your mood significantly! Just like professional divers train to reduce their oxygen intake by remaining calm, you can learn to feel less out of breath in your mask. Healthy people do not experience significant changes in blood oxygen levels, even while wearing dozens of layers of surgical masks—what most people experience is a perceived change in oxygen, or shortness of breath. A racing heart uses even more oxygen, worsening this feeling! For those who battle panic attacks or anxiety, this can feel similar to the shortness of breath that occurs with anxiety triggers. Familiarize yourself with deep breathing tools, or talk with your couples therapist or psychologist in Littleton to learn breathing techniques to help you stay calm. Practice breathing slowly and deeply when you are relaxed, trying to exhale for twice as long as you inhale, and notice how different your body and brain feel when you take deep, relaxed breaths. This trains your body to fully expand and relax your lungs, bringing more oxygen to your brain.

Increase Exposure

People who are required to go to work or school in face masks are reporting that they adjust more quickly—some even share stories about forgetting they are wearing a mask! However, if you are staying safer at home and not going out as much, you may only have a facial covering on to visit the pharmacy, or when you come to your couple’s therapist office in Highlands Ranch. Exposing yourself to triggers of stress or anxiety is a time-tested way of reducing those unpleasant feelings. It seems counter-intuitive, but slowly increasing your exposure can help you to feel less uncomfortable. Can you tolerate wearing a mask while sitting in front of a fan at home? (hint: strong airflow gets that “stale” air moving around and cools you off.) What about while reading a book without a fan on? Work your way up to wearing the mask occasionally while performing household chores, or while going out to check the mail. This is also a great time to adjust, fix, or modify your mask, since you are not in contact with anyone else.

As we all adjust to new requirements and recommendations, we need new skills and tools. Deep breathing and relaxation can help with the general sense of anxiety during these challenging times, as well as helping you to breathe easier. If you are struggling with these changes, or if the added stress is taking a toll on your marriage or children, don’t hesitate to contact Steven Lazarus, Psychologist in Littleton.

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Managing Back to School Stress During A Pandemic

The back to school season has always been a mixed bag for parents and kids, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, these challenges can seem amplified. Are you and your family ready for Back-to-School: Pandemic? Child psychologists in Littleton share their top tips for managing stress and getting the school year off to a good start!

Tip #1: Tackle the Uncertainties

One of the biggest challenges facing children and teenagers in Colorado as they consider starting school again is what that schooling is going to look like! Will your study be in-class part-time? 100% online? A hybrid model? If you answered “yes” to any of these, you’re already a step ahead. Unfortunately, many school districts have released conflicting information, and some of the future remains up in the air. This can be frustrating for anyone, but especially for children with anxiety, learning challenges, or those on the autism spectrum. Help your child by addressing as many uncertainties as possible. This may include sharing updates from the school with older children and teens, or could be limited to reassurance for younger kids, such as “you will go to school or learn at home every day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., and do homework or read a book for one hour every night.” Try and draw on routines and schedules that have worked well in the past. Some parents are choosing 100% online schooling during the pandemic to eliminate the runaround, hassle, and anxiety of all the changes.

Tip #2: Recover the Routine

If your child’s routine went out the window in a cloud of disinfectant, or if summers are always a “free-for-all” anyway, you’ll want to reconnect with your routine. In addition to the “big” uncertainties in life, most people do best with structure and routines that add predictability. This is the time to start bringing back reasonable bedtimes, limits on gaming or non-school screen time, and make sure meals, fun, and rest are a part of the everyday!

Tip #3: Explore Fears and Expectations

Kids are all over the board with their feelings on the pandemic. While some seem unfazed, others are expressing anxiety, clinging, and disruptive behavior. Children and teens with health anxiety are more likely to be stressed during these times, and disruptions to intensive behavioral therapies and supportive tutoring have been a challenge for special needs students since the end of the last school year. Talk with your child about what she is worried about, and why. Open discussions about your experiences and provide appropriate reassurance. If the concerns seem to go beyond typical childhood worries, contact a child or teenage psychologist to help your child build coping skills or to assess for more than situational challenges.

Tip #4: Model Flexibility

We’ve all been asked to be flexible since the start of the pandemic, and this trend will only continue. Likewise, we must find ways to help children and teens be flexible during this time. As parents, you’re being watched closely! Remember, your feelings influence your children, so if they see that you are constantly rigid, frustrated, or anxious about the situation, they are likely to feel similarly. Share your frustrations and feelings, and encourage your child to do the same, but always show how you can adapt and be flexible. You can help them build the same strong skills needed to adapt to any challenges life throws at them.

The 2020 school year is likely to be filled with challenges for our children. Social skills, academic skills, and emotional regulation skills have been disrupted for months in addition to the challenging status of the world. If you feel like you or your child are having a harder time than other families, or if your child is refusing school or experiencing significant setbacks, call a Littleton child psychologist to help rebuild skills.

/0 Comments/by
, , ,

Has COVID-19 Taken a Toll On Your Marriage? These Tools Help!

For many couples in Highlands Ranch, the lockdown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic is slowly ending. Businesses are opening, traffic is getting backed up, and everyday life is starting to become recognizable again. But have you and your partner come out of the quarantine a little less close? Many couples who seek couple’s therapy in Highlands Ranch report that the stress of working from home, homeschooling kids, not being able to meet with friends, and just being stuck together all the time has taken a major toll on their marriage. Fortunately, these tools can help you reset and reconnect!

Get Some Space—Alone

Now that you can leave the house… do! Certainly, you love your partner, but spending too much time together can make anyone wish they had more distance. If you’re comfortable, call up friends to reconnect, go for a jog, or enjoy an outdoor recreation activity. These not only get you away from home, but they give you time to relax and recover on your own. Plenty of people talk about how introverts need alone time, but the best relationship experts know that everybody needs alone time! This is a great time to meditate or reflect on your relationship.

Ditch the Kids

For couples with kids , the pandemic had an extra challenge: you’re now homeschooling, whether you like it or not! This means you’ve not only been spending more time with your partner, but a lot more time with the kids. While this has probably created some prime family bonding, you and your partner need time alone to be adults. As restrictions lift, consider having a close relative or friend over to babysit while you and your spouse spend adult time together—go for a walk, visit a restaurant if you feel comfortable, or find some private space to be intimate. Now that the kids aren’t out of the house for six hours a day automatically, you need to spend more time planning!

Seek Professional Help

If the typical advice isn’t touching your relationship problems, you should consider setting up an appointment to meet with a couples therapist in Highlands Ranch! When you work with a professional, you get an unbiased third-party to mediate disputes, and years of training and expertise in the best evidence-based methods to help you and your partner see eye-to-eye again. Animal-assisted couples therapy  is a great option for those who feel uncomfortable with talking, and Dr. Steve’s therapy dog, Zeke, loves to help couples express difficult feelings!

The pandemic has taken too much away from us already. Don’t let it ruin your marriage! If you and your partner are struggling, don’t wait. Visit in-person with facial coverings and enhanced sanitation, or participate in telehealth couples therapy. Get expert marriage counseling help today!

 

/0 Comments/by