IDEALS of Kentucky, Inc.
Institute for Development of Emotional and Life Skills
Home Events Order Forms References About IDEALS Kentucky

Almost all couple relationships hit a hard time when love gets lost in issues. All too often these hard times lead to ending a relationship that once was wonderful. Couple therapy is a very important part of IDEALS of Kentucky’s work. For the most part, at IDEALS we use Relationship Enhancement Therapy® (RE). When tensions and issues are dogging your days and haunting your nights, Relationship Enhancement® Therapy can turn a crisis into an opportunity to make the relationship better than ever.

Even if….

  • There is a great wall between you
  • Little arguments turn to big fights
  • Sex is a battle
  • Tears, silence, or raised voices are how you communicate these days
  • You are thinking of divorce
  • Someone has had an affair

Or if….

  • Your once deep love has gotten lost
  • You just don’t feel close any more
  • One or two issues keep tension going
  • The magic’s gone
  • You’re forming a new step-family
  • Finances, family, work overtake love

    • Relationship Enhancement® Therapy is a long proven intervention that combines resolving issues with development of new skills and attitudes that enable you to work more effectively together to make your relationship ever more loving. It is a therapy meant to save and build your relationship.

    Check the reference section at the top of the page for research on the effectiveness of RE. RE centers around learning ten skills for communicating, solving problems, and resolving conflict. In the process of therapy you learn the skills while resolving your issues and developing a strong foundation for loving each other day by day. RE is founded on the values of honesty and compassion. When these two values are expressed and lived, no problem is too great for a relationship to handle. Often, when things have gotten really rough in a relationship, it is hard for people to be honest and compassionate with each other. There is just too much water under the bridge! In these situations the skill of the RE therapist works to facilitate each person facing the other as his or her best self-so there is the opportunity for love to come through and transform pain to hope and eventually joy.

    IDEALS of Kentucky as an active participant in Bluegrass Healthy Marriage Initiative and strongly believes in marriage as a foundation of social order, family, and faith communities. For this reason, please realize that married couples who come to IDEALS of Kentucky will find therapy which is, as much as ethically possible, pro-marriage, rather than neutral. Of course, each person and couple must make up their own minds about such serious issues, and there are very legitimate reasons why some couples should separate and divorce. Those choices and reasons will always be respected here. However, IDEALS of Kentucky recognizes that divorce is often a premature solution with long term health, economic, and social consequences for couples and their children. We believe most conflicts can be resolved when people face each other with skill, honesty, and compassion and have the help of a well-trained professional whose primary client is the relationship.

    Formats for RE Therapy

    RE Therapy normally takes place in one and a half hour sessions. Our experience shows an hour and a half usually provides sufficient time to work an issue to a legitimate stopping point. Therapy begins with an intake session to outline issues and decide on the best path. There may be reasons for using some form of therapy other than RE (perhaps in cases of domestic violence, chemical dependency, or severe depression of one partner). If RE therapy is chosen, couples begin by learning core skills while they work on issues.

    Couples may want to save money and get to serious issues quickly by attending a Mastering the Mysteries of Love workshop. Workshops are held on one Saturday each month with follow-ups on four weeknights or a second Saturday. For a schedule of workshops, click here. Couples will have an opportunity to learn all ten skills quickly in the workshop and discuss one or two issues (this is done privately without other couples hearing). Then serious therapy work can begin of deeper issues.

    Other couples may want to schedule individual sessions from the beginning. These may be held weekly or several times within a week if the couple is in serious crisis.

    If you don’t live in Central Kentucky….

    Does RE Therapy sound like it would work for you, but you don’t live in Central Kentucky? There is a network of RE therapists across the country. For information about a RE therapist near you, go to www.nire.org or call (301) 986-1479.

    If you would like to schedule an appointment (or ask questions)

    Contact mary@skillswork.org or call (502) 227-0055 in Frankfort or (859) 806-4484 in Lexington. Therapy sessions are held at The Center in the McClure Building in Frankfort, 306 West Main St Suite 301 or 828 Lane Allen Road, Lexington.

    When you call, we will determine your fee, based on family income and how many people live in your home. Payment may be through insurance, credit card, check, or cash.