Photo of Ashley Caroline Mills, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Social Work/Therapist
Ashley Caroline Mills
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LCSW
Verified Verified
Denver, NC 28037  (Online Only)
My name is Ashley Mills and I am a Licensed Clinical Therapist providing mental health therapy to individuals, couples, adults, and families. I have been in private practice for over 13 years. I focus working with people with anxiety disorders, depression, difficulty coping with changes, and relationship issues. I often work with people who have traumatic experiences, people with grief and loss issues, and people who are on the spectrum of Autism. I am very open minded, nonjudgmental, non-biased, and have a great deal of empathy. I have wanted to be a therapist most of my life and absolutely love what I do.
My name is Ashley Mills and I am a Licensed Clinical Therapist providing mental health therapy to individuals, couples, adults, and families. I have been in private practice for over 13 years. I focus working with people with anxiety disorders, depression, difficulty coping with changes, and relationship issues. I often work with people who have traumatic experiences, people with grief and loss issues, and people who are on the spectrum of Autism. I am very open minded, nonjudgmental, non-biased, and have a great deal of empathy. I have wanted to be a therapist most of my life and absolutely love what I do.
(704) 389-3683 View (704) 389-3683
Photo of Madison Briggs, MS, LCMHC, NCC, Counselor
Madison Briggs
Counselor, MS, LCMHC, NCC
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Denver, NC 28037
Over the past decade, the importance of mental health has been brought to the forefront of the conversation. My goal is to normalize and de-stigmatize the utilization of therapeutic interventions. I recognize the courage that it takes to ask for professional support and I am strongly committed to helping you navigate some of life’s most difficult challenges. I have been working in the mental health field for over 8 years; within this time I gained experience working with children ages 5 and up, adolescents/teens, adults, couples, and families.
Over the past decade, the importance of mental health has been brought to the forefront of the conversation. My goal is to normalize and de-stigmatize the utilization of therapeutic interventions. I recognize the courage that it takes to ask for professional support and I am strongly committed to helping you navigate some of life’s most difficult challenges. I have been working in the mental health field for over 8 years; within this time I gained experience working with children ages 5 and up, adolescents/teens, adults, couples, and families.
(980) 247-4744 View (980) 247-4744
Couples Counseling Therapists

Does couples counseling work?

Research shows that couples counseling is effective; it can reduce relationship distress and improve emotional awareness, communication, empathy, intimacy, and overall relationship satisfaction. For example, emotionally focused therapy was found to be effective for about 75 percent of couples, and those benefits lasted at least two years.

When should a couple seek counseling?

Couples can benefit from counseling if they consistently struggle in their relationship. They may have lost the ability to communicate effectively, become entrenched in harmful patterns, begun to fight more than usual, broken the other’s trust, suffered from a mental or physical illness, or faced any number of other challenges. Many therapists offer free consultations, so if a couple isn’t sure whether therapy is necessary, asking directly can provide clarity.

How can I get my partner to go to couples therapy?

The decision to seek couples therapy is often driven by one partner, who then convinces the other to participate. When discussing the idea, the initiator should be direct and assertive. They can state the problems they see and explain how the relationship would benefit from therapy. In more serious cases, they can also explain how their relationship may suffer without making any changes or seeking professional help.

How does a couple prepare for couples counseling?

The anticipation of beginning couples counseling can be difficult—sometimes more difficult than the first session itself. Taking a few moments to reflect can allay those concerns: What are the current challenges? When and how did they begin? What do they want the relationship to look like in the future? Reflecting on these questions can help individuals or couples articulate their goals. Of course, the therapist will also ask questions and guide couples through the process.