Promoting the
Success and Growth of
individuals
families
couples

At NorthPoint Professional Counseling our counselors provide customized and comprehensive treatment for children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups.

NorthPoint Family, Marriage Pre Marital Sexual Addiction Counseling

Relational Problems

NorthPoint Relational Problems counseling is designed to help individuals / couples learn about the "relational dance" (the destructive patterns of relating to self and others). You will learn effective ways to improve conflict and communications; Develop / improve relationship skill as well as understand abusive relationships and their susceptibility to domestic violence.

Relationship counseling can help individuals / couples help in understand the messages and habits we may have inherited from the family in which we grew up and offer new, healthier skills to realize their potential.

Are you struggling with what feels like relational sabotage?

How do I live with a spouse who is depressed?

My children and I use to be so close; they won't talk to me – what happened?

Why can't' we just talk? I can't believe everything has to turn into a fight.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the DSM-IV-TR, which has been referred to in the profession as the counselors reference bible, states "relational problems include patterns of interaction between or among members of a relational unit that are associated with clinically significant impairment in functioning, or symptoms among one or more members of the relational unit, or impairment in the functioning of the relational unit itself".

That means you may have a problem related to:

  • A mental disorder or general medical condition ~ a pattern of impaired interaction that is associated with a mental disorder, such as bipolar, depression, etc., or a general medical condition in a family member
  • Parent-child relational problems ~ the interaction between the parent and the child is characterized by poor communication, overprotection, lack of discipline, etc., such that it affects the development of the child
  • Partner relational problems ~ the interaction between spouses may be characterized by lack of communication, excessive criticism, withdrawal, unrealistic expectations, such that the partners functioning is significantly impaired
  • Sibling relational problem ~ sibling interaction significantly impacting the unity of the family
  • Relational problems relating to employment ~ relationships with supervisors or co-workers can affect your job performance
  • Problems related to abuse and neglect ~ physical abuse of a child, sexual abuse of a child, neglect of a child, physical abuse of an adult, sexual abuse of an adult
  • Other relational problems ~ relationships outside your primary relationships such as in-laws, your former spouse, a dating relationship, male and female friends, neighbors, etc.

Relational problems interfere with intimacy, may be seen as boundary failures, and impact your life in many other ways. Relational problems affect your thoughts and feelings about yourself and others as well as influence the resulting behavior. What you can change is how you respond to relational problems.2

Healthy Relationships

  • Respect and Honor
  • Expressions of Encouragement
  • Listen, Acknowledge, and Consider Response
  • Appreciate and Affirm
  • Trust In-Spite of/Through Brokenness
  • Identify and Build on Commonalities
  • Order in Place and Deliberate Actions
  • Nurture and Understand
  • Self-less Orientation
  • Hope, Faith, and Pursuit of Consistency
  • Integrity Journey
  • Pardon, Grace, and Mercy Must Abound2

2 Bob Vickers