According to studies, the success of couples counseling in Reston, VA is measured in four factors. The client’s power for growth and self-healing makes up forty percent of the success. As we all know, people have strengths and resources - the latter may cover beliefs, values, feelings and relational capacity, among others. Effective therapy helps clients organize their resources. Dr. Durana purports that to be able to elicit strengths, competencies and resources, a person must focus on what has worked, rather than what has failed. This notion lets us believe that we can easily move from a position of strength - as such, problem-solving is facilitated and self-esteem is improved. By looking at what is right with people, what works or has worked for them in the past and by identifying assets in what people say and do, peoples’ capacity for healing and change can be supported.

Some approaches to counseling and learning give emphasis on what’s wrong with the person (pathologizing), on what is the hidden cause of the problem and what can be done to fix it. Although sometimes helpful, Dr. Durana learned that this approach has many drawbacks. For instance, when a person is called phobic about relationships, this term and the associated lack of competencies can act as barriers that may prevent fully understanding the person; the label may threaten and cause defenses. Dr. Durana believes that an individual is much more than a label. It’s more useful, in this example, to say that the person has forgotten how to relate because of past failures. Thinking this way about oneself can then facilitate self-understanding, self-acceptance and self-love. This method of thinking truly assists clients avoid getting into the rut. What is of great importance is how we think about what goes on with ourselves and with others.

While it is essential to know what has not worked before, it is more practical to focus on what has worked (e.g. when were we at our best). Dr. Durana’s approach facilitates self-discovery, personal responsibility, personal control and problem solving. This approach lets people use their ability to uncover resources and directions for growth in life and respects their personal worth, competence as well as lovability.

According to Dr. Durana, these are how roles and relationships in a couples counseling in Reston, VA look like: (1) the therapist helps uncover the client’s resources and potential for growth and provides conditions under which a successful counseling can take place and (2) the client makes the therapy work.

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