Marriage Counseling in Bensalem, PA—Licensed Counselors and Therapists

Marriage Counseling in Bensalem, PA—Bucks County Marital Counselors and Therapists

Marriage counseling helps couples to work through conflict and improve their relationship. It can help them to work through problems like a lack of intimacy, jealousy, parenting disagreements, and more. Whatever it is you and your partner might be going through, a marriage counselor can try to help you find common ground and be happy together again.

If you are interested in marriage counseling, consider working with a counselor or psychologist at Thriveworks Bensalem in Bucks County. Our counselors and therapists are the best of the best, with impressive skills and experience. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at (215) 874-8002.

Exercises that Can Benefit Your Marriage

“Love banking” is a practical and useful theory developed by world-renowned researchers, Dr. John Gottman. When used in marriage, this exercise is one of many that can help couples establish trust and positive energy in their marriage. Thriveworks counselors are trained to put this exercise, as well as many others, into use in your daily life.

The “love banking” theory can be thought of in a simple analogy. Imagine that your relationship is a bank account. Your bank account can be extremely full and wealthy, or it can be overdrawn. Thriveworks counselors can help you learn to see each and every interaction with your spouse as either a “deposit” or a “withdrawal.”

Understanding the Marriage Bank Account

Withdrawals are any negative talk, fight, insult, request or demand made of your partner. Couples that are experiencing difficulties in their marriage can have a great number of withdrawals in one day.

  • If you say “Don’t leave your junk on the floor” — that is a withdrawal
  • If you say “Just leave me alone” — that is a withdrawal
  • If you say “Take the trash out” — that is a withdrawal
  • If you slam the door and walk away — that is a withdrawal

These may sound like simple actions and requests, and some or many may even be innocent and not intended to harm, but they are still withdrawals. Name calling, swearing, eye rolling, yelling; these are all even more serious withdrawals.

When our emotional or relational bank account is empty or overdrawn, we feel lonely, angry, resentful, and bitter.  None of us wants to bounce checks. This is true for our marriage bank account, as it is true for our real bank accounts. Without making any deposits, even the simplest requests can feel hurtful to your partner because they are not balanced with love and respect.

Make 5 Deposits Per Every Withdrawal

The magic number, as formulated by Dr. Gottman’s research, appears to be a five to one ratio. We need to have five deposits for every one withdrawal. This may sound impossible for couples that are struggling to get through a day without a slammed door or an argument. But by slowing building up your deposits, and making small changes that make a difference in your overall communication style, real change is possible. Deposits can be anything that builds up your spouse. A hug, an encouraging word, emptying the dishwasher; these are all ways to make deposits in your marriage bank account.

In order to make deposits effectively, you need to know how to best express love and affection for your spouse. “The Five Love Languages,” as developed by researcher and author Gary Chapman, addresses the different ways that we give and receive love. The five love languages are: words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, quality time, and physical touch. Let’s delve into a few:

  1. Words of affirmation:This love language is exactly as it sounds. We all know that it is possible to use our words to hearten and encourage our spouse. This can be spoken, in writing, in recognition of something large or small. It is an important and simple was to express love to your partner.
  2. Gifts:This love language can also be quite simple to express. Tokens of appreciation, even inexpensive ones, can show someone that they are thought of and cherished. It does not reflect the quality of being materialistic or selfish; rather, it is simply that some people feel love most by being given a tangible reminder of another’s love for them.
  3. Acts of service: Taking the trash out, getting the oil changed in the car, emptying the dishwasher, making school lunches, these are jobs that most people do not look forward to doing. But for someone who really values this type of love language, these acts of service mean a great deal when they are completed without prodding by their spouse.

Marriage Counseling at Thriveworks Bensalem

A marriage counselor at Thriveworks Bensalem in Bucks County can help you and your partner understand the marriage bank account, as well as other effective techniques for improving your relationship. If you are ready to schedule an appointment, give us a call. We’ll set you up with a skilled, caring, experienced counselor or psychologist. You could even have your first appointment within 24 hours, as most new clients do.

We look forward to putting our skills to work and helping you improve your marriage. Call us today at (215) 874-8002.

Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

People Love Our Providers!

Overall Rating: 5★★★★★ based on 12 5 1 12 reviews. See all reviews
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Counseling

★★★★★
Jamie is an awesome counselor with many skills to help individuals cope with everyday issues. She has changed my life in so many ways. I love leaving a session with a plan in mind. Her professionalism and caring demeanor is an added plus. Jamie has very good insight on issues that are too close to recognize myself. I’m very grateful for her direction and support. I would highly recommend her to family and friends !
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Excellent

★★★★★
Jamie is a fantastic therapist. I highly recommend her. She is well rounded and provides great assistance on various topics of concern. She has a way of asking the right questions to assist in processing and reflecting on issues in a new way. She is approachable, personable, and I very much enjoy my time with her.
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Compassionate and Wise Counsel

★★★★★
Jamie walked with me through a very difficult period in parenting a child with a chronic illness. She listens well, is compassionate, and helped me reframe my thinking when I was particularly discouraged and stuck. The fact that she could also integrate faith into our conversations made all the difference. I highly recommend working with Jamie!
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Jamie Coonan

★★★★★
I have worked with Jamie for over 15 years, and I find her to be a very competent counselor. She has a definite strength in working with children and adolescents.
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Over 35 years ive known frank

★★★★★
First met frank in the mid 80's as he came to Phoenix Arizona as a certified surgical technologist & worked with him there in a level 1 trauma center. It wasn't much after his stay in Phoenix he returned to Philadelphia where he then became Philadelphia fire fighter, and his effort of doing that excelled to peaking position as Captain for the PFD. As a friend of Frank through all his dedication and motivation to higher education , that his commitment & dedication hadn't already been in progress . But as a friend to see what he has done and become to his educate himself to helping people in the community is second to none. But more than anything he's a great person and to have him as my friend all these years seen what he's done to keep helping people in the private sector, bravo frank !
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Frank

★★★★★
I worked with Frank and found him to be a an empathetic and genuinely caring counselor. Frank is a skilled clinician who helps his client's problem solve to help them meet their goals. Frank has a positive energy and an easy way about him. Frank's clients are lucky to have a dedicated and knowledgeable counselor on their side.
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Talk Therapy that helps

★★★★★
I found Frank during a tough time in my life. I was dealing with some pretty heavy issues related to family and career and suffering from depression and severe anxiety. Frank listened and had a way of making me see things in a different (more positive) light. It's clear he cares deeply about others and genuinely wants to lessen their suffering. I highly recommend Frank as a counselor. His empathy and skills made him more than qualified to assist in my journey to wellness. Frank: thank you for all that you do. You have made my life less dark, and for that I am grateful.
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Frank Yaeger

★★★★★
Having been privileged to work with Frank as a colleague I have seen his compassion and care first-hand. Frank is not only a skilled clinician, but genuinely cares. Frank works with individuals at their own pace while challenging them to realize their full potential.
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Frank is a True asset

★★★★★
Have been a colleague of Franks for a couple of years now. What I've seen over the past couple of years is an individual who is constantly striving to be the best he can be, at every task he takes on. When it comes to his clinical skills, Frank has been someone I could always turn to for direction and knowledge if the need ever arose, he's definitely a team player. He always has the clients best interest heart and has a warm sense of ease about him. For those who might be looking for assistance in exploring current struggles, I would highly recommend Frank Yaeger.
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Frank Yaeger

★★★★★
I first worked with Frank as a client. He was my personal trainer. He not only expanded my understanding and knowledge of physical health, but also gave me the confidence I need to far exceed my initial goals. As the role of a licensed professional counselor (LPC) I had invited Frank to be part of a three-person panel which included two Ph. D’s speaking on the topic of estrangement. The event went extremely well, and Frank’s contributions were very insightful, informative, and offered tangible methods to address estranged love ones. I highly recommend Frank as a therapist. He will provide unwavering empathy, ‘meet you where you are’ and provide the necessary interventions and compassion to have breakthroughs along your therapeutic journey
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Recommendation for Francis Yaeger

★★★★★
I am pleased to recommend my personal friend, Francis Yaeger, as an excellent counselor at Thriveworks, Bensalem. I have known Francis Yaeger (Frank) for over 40 years having been close friends with his sister most of my life and can honestly say he is singularly qualified and committed to helping others deal with intrapersonal issues. Frank has the unique ability to see things from an objective, fact based viewpoint and the ability to analyze problems from multiple perspectives. He is skilled at helping patients to look at things in a different way, enabling them to resolve difficult issues by helping them see things from a broader perspective. Frank has years of experience working with family relationship problems, grief and loss, addiction and more. He is a kind and caring person with a strong desire to help others. He interacts well with all ages. If you’re looking for a counselor who is objective, compassionate, and effective; Frank will be an asset to your health care needs.
Thriveworks Counseling Bensalem

Frank Yaeger

★★★★★
Frank is always striving to be a better version of himself. He has a level of passion for life and learning that I've rarely seen in others. He works on a holistic approach to life from every angle; whether for himself or with suggestions to others. His interactions make you feel both that he knows where you’re coming from and where you’d like to go, all the while making you feel heard and supported. I feel that he would make anyone a great therapist!
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Thriveworks Counseling

Schedule your first appointment with a Thriveworks Counselor or Life Coach!

  • 1950 Street Rd Suite 410
    Bensalem, PA 19020

  • Mon-Fri:7AM-9:30PM
    Saturday:7AM-6PM
    Sunday:8AM-5PM

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