Emotionally Focused Therapy

There are many well-researched models of couples therapy, and there seems to be some snobbery that each model is the only one clients or therapists need. The reality is different clients respond differently to different modes of therapy. While drastically simplified, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is about understanding if you fit into familiar patterns of […]

Reasons Couples Get Divorced

Once upon a time when divorce was rare, most people were driven to divorce by one of the “Triple A” problems: Affairs, Addictions, or Abuse. Divorce meant someone was chronically cheating, repeatedly drunk, or physically violent. Desertion was the fourth reason for divorce in 19th century America when husbands would go west and disappear. Affairs, […]

Marriage isn’t Over Until it’s Over

It’s commonly believed that when people enter the legal divorce process, they have come to accept that divorce is inevitable. Even therapists and lawyers tend to assume that once divorce papers are filed, ambivalence about divorcing is over. The only task ahead is to help couples have a constructive end to their marriage.  Recent research […]

Who to Talk to and Not Talk to Regarding a Potential Divorce

We’ve seen people in your shoes—a spouse who announces they are leaning toward wanting a divorce and makes a bunch of mistakes when talking with others. One mistake is not telling anyone, often out of shame or avoiding recognizing the threat as real. The result is isolation and stewing in one’s juices. A second mistake […]

Choosing Between a 50 and 75-Minute Appointment

Sometimes people get overwhelmed with the number of appointment types Cardinal Point has to offer. This is understandable, especially if you have never done counseling. I have found that intake sessions need 75 minutes to be most successful. Beyond that, it largely depends on you. Below are some considerations when choosing an appointment time. Choosing […]