• Skip to main content

Peaceful Living Counseling

Counseling & Professional Services in Philadelphia, PA

  • About
  • Services
    • Anger Management
    • Counseling
    • Relationship Coaching
    • Coaching
    • Online Coaching
    • Consulting
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • Blog
  • Contact
  • Payment Corner
    • Current Fees
  • Join Our Team
Home / Peaceful Living Blog / How satisfied are you in your relationship

How satisfied are you in your relationship

Hello again! How are you doing this week? Any plans for this weekend? August is in two days, can you believe this!!!  I feel summer is going so fast. What are your thoughts and feelings today? Or even about this week?

I hope you have had time for self-care and relax this summer!

happy are you in your relationship

LET’S talk about relationship satisfaction, which I am looking forward to!

How do we strengthen our relationship, to become or remain satisfied?

The Gottman Institute calls this the 5:1 ratio, which refers to having 5 positive encounters or situations with our partner and keeping the negative to a minimum of 1.

For every 1 negative experience with our partner we should aim for 5 positive experiences.

To me, this sounds a bit challenging so here are some steps we can take in the meantime, to get to the 5:1 ratio goal!

  1. We can reflect on our relationships and journal our experiences with our partners. Write down any positives that occurred during a fight, date, or any time spent together. We should also write down the negatives, any interaction can be tracked. We should also reflect on our own feelings and emotions with our partner.

  2. We should tracking this for at least three days a week and make sure to include a ratio. At the end of the week, we can tally our points and determine a ratio.

  3. We should avoid defensiveness, criticism, contempt and stonewalling because these do not do any good in relationships and can really harm our partners. When these are being using frequently, relationships are in negative overdrive.

After we determine our current ratio for positives versus negatives, we can aim to reach a better goal or ratio. I know my ratio is definitely not a 5:1, more-so a 3:1, so I want to take the steps I need to get on track to my goal ratio. Below are some ways we can better our relationship satisfaction, have more positive interactions with our partners, and avoid negative ones. 

How to Change the Ratio in your Relationship?

  1. Appreciation and Affection

We can let our partners know we appreciate them by verbally telling them each day something we cherish and value in them. We can also show affection whether that be by words or physical touch.

  1. Active listening, Acts of Service & Validation

We can make sure we engage in conversation, ask questions, respond with more than one word, and make eye contact. If our partner is extra busy one week, we can do an extra chore or help out in any way we can, so our partner does not feel overwhelmed. Acknowledging and showing a sense of understanding when our partner tells us something, despite if we agree or not, helps them feel validated. This one can be hard for me sometimes, so I try to place myself in my partner’s shoes and look at it from that perspective. I also remind myself that I want to feel understood and validated in return.

  1. Having Fun, Bonding & Connecting

I think it is funny we have to remind ourselves to have fun, but I know I definitely need this reminder. We can dedicate time for a date, coffee in the morning or a quick chat, to let our partner know we care about them and like spending time together. We can bond  and connect by taking interest in each other’s work, passions, interests and ideas, as well as spending quality time together on a regular basis.

I can imagine this can feel like a-lot to do, however, it can be done with help and support. Ms. Ebony is a Level II Gottman trained therapist who specialize in helping individuals resolve conflict in relationships and works with individuals individually to learn how to have healthy relationship with oneself.
Talk to you soon,

Christina, BS

Filed Under: Peaceful Living Blog, Relationships

  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Payment Corner
  • Delaware Office

Peaceful Living Counseling and Professional Services, Inc.

2417 Welsh Road, Suite 223 · Philadelphia, PA 19114
office 267-343-5327 · fax 267-343-5861

Request an Appointment

 

 

Peaceful Living Counseling and Professional Services, Inc. is Listed on Therapy for Black Girls Peaceful Living Counseling and Professional Services, Inc. Gottman Approved Member View My Profile on Christian Counselor Directory Peaceful Living Counseling and Professional Services, Inc. is Listed on Psychology TodayEbony Peake, MSW, ACSW,CAMS-II, CGT

 

© 2023 Peaceful Living Counseling and Professional Services, Inc. · All Rights Reserved · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

Fee Schedule, Updated 8/2021

Initial Sessions

Court Ordered Anger Management 60 minutes at $100

Initial Individual Anger Management Session 90 minutes at $130

Initial Couples Session 90 minutes at $160

Initial Individual Session 90 minutes at $130

Initial Coaching Session 90 minutes at $130

Gottman Relationships Session, 2 hrs at $285

Following the Initial Appointment

Anger Management Coaching session, 50 minutes at $80

Individual Coaching, 50 minutes $80

Individual Session, 50 minutes at $80

Individual Session, 80 minutes at $120

Couples Session, 50 minutes at $100

Couples Session, 80 minutes $150

Gottman Relationships Session, 50 minutes $100

Other

Relationship Assessment – $80- Self Assessment

Consultant Session – $100

Late Cancellation / No-Show Fee -Individual -$80

Late Cancellation/ No-Show Fee-Couple – $100

NSF / Returned Checks – $35

Payment Policy

All Payments are nonrefundable. All initial appointments must be paid in advance. Payments thereafter are expected at the time of service. Peaceful Living Counseling & Professional Services accepts payment by cash, check, and credit card. Our practice does not bill insurance. A $35.00 service charge will be charged for any checks returned.

We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards.

Peaceful Living Counseling & Professional Services does not accept insurance at this time. Therefore, all clients in our practice are self-pay. Read about the benefits of private pay here. We do accept Health Savings Accounts (HSA) & Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) through employers.

Cancellation Policy

Clients are responsible for keeping all scheduled appointments. We do utilize an electronic management record system that generates notifications of upcoming appointments.

If in any event you missed the 24-hour notice, or the 48-hour notice on Sunday, and there is availability for you come in during the same week, your no-show fee can be waived. This is up to the practice discretion and availability.

Unless an emergency takes place, inclement weather, a serious illness, or an unavoidable circumstance, you will be charged the full fee of the missed appointment. Special exceptions or accommodation may be made in extenuating circumstances such as extreme weather and legitimate emergencies.

No other appointments will be scheduled until payment is received for missed (no show) appointments. You will be responsible for the entire fee if cancellation is less than 24 hours. You will be responsible for the late or no-show cancellation fee of $50.

Late Cancellation Policy

In the event that an appointment is accepted and paid for and the individual or person (s) calls to cancel within 22 hours of his or her scheduled appointment time. The individual or person (s) appointment is considered a late cancellation. A late cancellation will be identified on any client (s)’ record when the individual cancels less than 24 hours of his or her scheduled appointment time. The individual or person will be subjected to the late cancellation fee of $50. This fee can be waived or adjusted based on the notice time the individual gives to the office. The individual or person (s) forfeit his or her rights to rebook another appointment until the late cancellation fee is paid in full. The individual credit card on file or credit to the account will be charged for any late cancellation or no-show fees owe to the practice. As stated, all sessions and payments are nonrefundable.

No-Show Policy

In an event that an appointment is accepted and paid for and the individual or person(s) does not call to cancel or reschedule his or her scheduled appointment within one business day. This appointment is considered a no-show appointment. A no-show appointment is identified on any client (s)’ record when one does not show for their appointment time within 30 minutes of his or her scheduled appointment time. The individual or person (s) forfeit his or her rights to rebook another appointment independently and the initial payment is not rolled over as credit. The client must restart the initial process over. As stated, all sessions and payments are nonrefundable. Regular and consistent attendance is required in order to make progress towards goals and to meet with success in treatment.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation regarding this policy.