Caught in the middle
Many couples know the feeling. A parent makes a comment, drops by without asking, or has strong opinions about holidays or grandchildren. One partner feels hurt or intruded upon. The other partner feels torn between loyalty to their spouse and loyalty to the family that raised them.
John helps couples see this as a shared challenge instead of a contest between families. Both partners are usually trying to honor something important.
Whose family sets the rules
Every family has its own way of doing things: how close to be, how often to visit, how conflict gets handled, what counts as respect. When two families come together, those rules can clash. It can feel like one family's way is the default and the other's is an exception.
In counseling, you can name what each of you learned growing up and what you want to keep, change, or build new as a couple.
Setting boundaries as a team
Boundaries tend to hold best when a couple sets them together and each partner handles their own family. When one partner is left to enforce limits alone, it often leads to resentment on one side and guilt on the other.
John helps couples agree on what matters most and how to communicate it with kindness and clarity. The aim is not to cut anyone off but to protect the relationship at the center.
What each partner is protecting
The partner hesitant to confront their family may be protecting a relationship they fear losing, or avoiding a conflict that has always gone badly. The partner pushing for boundaries may be protecting their sense of belonging in the marriage. Both deserve understanding.
No counselor can guarantee an outcome. What couples often find is that feeling like a team matters more than getting every relative to change.
What a session actually looks like
You meet together for 50 minutes by telehealth, with both partners physically in Texas. John may begin with a specific recent moment, such as a phone call before a holiday or a comment that landed hard at a family dinner.
He will slow it down and help each of you describe what you felt and what you needed from the other in that moment. Often the real hurt is less about the relative and more about feeling alone. John helps the other partner respond to that directly.
Sessions often end with a concrete agreement, such as a plan for the next visit or how each partner will speak up with their own family.
Starting together
The free 30-minute consultation lets both of you meet John and ask questions. John works only with couples, so extended family members do not attend sessions.
Sessions are $175 for 50 minutes, private pay.
Common Questions
Can our parents come to a session?
No. John works only with couples. Sessions focus on the two of you and how you handle extended family together.
Does setting boundaries mean cutting family off?
Not necessarily. Most couples want to stay connected to their families. Boundaries are about protecting the partnership while staying in relationship with the people you love.
How long are sessions and what do they cost?
Sessions are 50 minutes and $175. The first 30-minute consultation is free. John works on a private-pay basis and does not bill insurance directly, though some couples have out-of-network benefits worth asking their plan about.
Take the Next Step
If any of this sounds like your relationship, the next step is a free 30-minute consultation. Both of you can meet John, ask what you want to ask, and decide together whether to schedule a first session. You can also call or text 817-381-0691.