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Tools for Growing Love
with Shannon Batts

Happily married habits are very different from break-up habits in everyday and conflict communication.  Want to know what to do?  I've got tools and will show you how to use them. Lesbian, Straight, Gay, Non-Binary, Queer, Trans, Intersex, and trying to sort it out-all welcome!

click here for  free gift
                                                                          Who is Relationship Gardening for?
Do you want to make your relationship better?  Or is there that 1 topic you just can't get through yet?
Do you have a good relationship-but just need some support due to being bombarded by life events?
Did you think you had a good marriage but then found out your partner was having an affair? 

​Or are you here just for the chicken video?  You'll have to find it below and I am leaving it there even though I get a little weird in it. I miss Athena (RIP).

This is Shannon speaking and I specialize in making marriage better or keeping it that way, including for all you therapists and healers.  My success rate, clients and colleagues tell me I am good at it (your mileage may vary). Much of it is that I am not guessing but have studied the research and been advance trained in bringing all that goodness to you. Times are so hard, and it is a gift to you and your family to learn how to talk about hard topics with your loved one. Did you know there is something you have to do first before you even start working on your list of what needs addressing?  Did you know affair recovery or affair prevention has very specific steps? Let's get you going in a better direction so you can lower the stress in your relationship. Or just bring in a new relationship and get all your healthy relationship habits in place from the start! If you want to hear what people said who brought their relationships in for help-look at the testimonials on the Reviews tab. 

WHAT ABOUT TRANSGENDER COMING OUT IN MARRIAGE?
I also created something wonderful for couples with 1 partner coming out trans. The couples actually create it while I am more of the catalyst. Professional, savvy support for couples staying together while undergoing gender transition, and for Spouses navigating all the changes was limited. I created groups just for these couples and one for supportive spouses. These groups remain active via video meetings in 2020 by donation.  
HOW YOU CAN HELP
​I have flexible rates for all seeking Relationship Gardening.  In 2020 alone, more than 37 people received by donation support groups, and so far 3 (and counting) received free gender medical assessments and surgery letters, including for the unhoused. Black clients received Reparations inspired free sessions. White people faced their white fragility and bubble. More clients used flexible fee offers and paid what they could.  My time is also donated to Race Talks PDX and my own free antiracism group, Accountability Friends of the Anarchist Jurisdiction.  Just kidding. It is called Accountability Friends' Antiracism Group.

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DONATE HERE  

SPOUSES' Group in Portland, Oregon is active and ongoing for when your partner comes out to you as transgender, non binary or questioning gender, and you want a place to talk in person with other supportive spouses who are going through similar things as you. Click on this sentence to go to the Couples and Families of Trans page and watch my video message, or read about Spouses' and Couples' Groups.  

SPOUSES' Group by Zoom video meeting now expanded for all of Oregon and California. Share this:
 http://www.relationshipgardening.com/spouses-group.html

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​
Read BLOG post on the supportive Spouses' Group here: 
https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/blog/transgender-coming-out-in-marriage-spouses-group

Need a letter for gender-affirmation medical care? https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/gender-letters-portland.html

​Looking for a Marriage Counselor who can talk about race? Shannon is a trained and active Race Talks Facilitator in Portland, Oregon, intentionally under (completed) training (100+ hours) and ongoing mentorship by Donna Maxey and Shaina Pomerantz.

Love Habits you can do today, sent immediately (a gift from Shannon):

    You will be asked to confirm your request.

     


               EXPLORE the tabs on this site, or                         this list of what else is here:

    Aftermath Live Demo Workshop for Most Couples 
    https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/relationship-workshops.html

    Transgender in Couples or Marriage https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/trans-in-couples.html

    Couples​ and Family of Transitioning Gender
    https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/partners-of-transgender.html

    Partners of Trans or Non Binary Online Support https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/partners-of-transgender-online-support.html

    Reviews https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/couples-therapist-reviews-portland.html

    Couples Workshops https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/relationship-workshops.html

    MORE relationship events, classes, groups
    https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/relationship-support-events-225015.html

    Rethinking Psychiatry and video https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/rethinking-psychiatry-alternatives.html

    Shannon's favorite resources, referrals, extra Rethinking Psychiatry links https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/resourcesevents.html

    ​Store to order practical, communication tools only available from Shannon https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

    Way Too Much Info About Shannon (adorable pics too) https://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/shannon.html

    WALKING Together meets up to walk around Portland neighborhoods. Just walking! Free.  Scheduled Sunday walks will be posted here by Wednesdays.  Next walk: TBA.

    Marriage Help Gift video has a Black Australorp as co-host! Watch for Athena...


    "Love Habits"   INSTANT ACCESS to communication excellence:
       *to keep your relationship thriving
         *for conflict savvy

             *for building trust
             *for better friendships
             *for marriage repair
               *for relationship success
                 *for growing healthy connections



    Place your email address in the blue box! I promise it's bigger on the inside.


    NOT TYPICAL MARRIAGE COUNSELING! 
    Most marriage help really bombs and that is a fact, Jack!  When surveyed most licensed counselors say they see couples and almost none have the training, even in grad school!!!!!!!  So if your partner says they don't want to talk to me because marriage counseling sucks, tell them I agree with them. That is why I don't do typical marriage counseling. We don't get swallowed up by the past, we don't have a passive watching you argue kind of session, & we don't only learn to listen better.

    WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE THIS KIND OF COUPLE'S SESSION?
    Think of this kind of input as an interactive class with things to do based on real people's success and help doing it on the spot.  Think of personal training when you have a plan of action and you do your fitness routine daily. Couples have very doable home relationship fitness to do daily that draws you closer.  We WILL get your stuff unpacked so that you can let it go if you have distressing events that have occurred, but in a way that you do it with each other with help at first (or till you can do it on your own) and get real understanding, validation and teamwork FROM EACH OTHER!! Isn't that beautiful!?!

    ​WHAT ARE THE GOALS FOR COUPLES?
    Relationship Gardening
     is here for your happy marriage-let's make it so!

    Let's get you the tools that we have gleaned from the masters of happy relationships so you can shift your communication at home for: 
    • processing conflict (instead of your knock down fight, or your cold shoulder non-fight fight)
    • broken trust recovery work (takes more than an apology)
    • affair prevention
    • dissolving the gridlock (you can get to the underlying reasons and become allies)
    • finding a compromise (yielding is essential, but learn what not to yield)
    • building positivity daily (yes, EVERY day)
    • using positive habits for better ways of complaining, sharing power, & keeping disagreements from blowing up
    • keeping a good friendship (not just in your mind, but also in action)
    • talking about meaningful topics including sex!
    • pursuing the dreams you have for your life and your family!
    NEWS! State Licensing Board clarifies that someone from ANY state, not just Oregon can come to an Oregon licensed professional! Bring it!

    ​I also have a CA LMFT license and can see Californians that qualify for remote, distance, video sessions for counseling or coaching.


    TESTIMONIALS...WOW!
    http://relationshipgardening.weebly.com/reviews.html

    DISTANCE SESSIONS ( Click here: What is a Distance Session including video chat?)

    EVENTS
    Fun and engaging presentations are offered and can be arranged for your group, party, religious group, class, or organization e.g, a House party with demos, how fun! 


    IN PERSON
    Portland, Oregon is where you can meet me one on one, or in a group setting by appointment in a wheelchair accessible space, with acessible bathrooms both single stall gendered, and single stall all genders. Peruse more info on the green BROWSE APPOINTMENT schedule box below to see the schedule or to make an appointment.  Email me if you'd like.  Click on all those colorful words you just read.

     WALK & TALK SESSIONS are appointments for counseling or consultation while walking in Portland, Oregon. Learn more here: (Walk & Talk)


    Browse appointment schedule
    email Shannon
    New Enhanced Relationship Check-Up now available with streamlined 30% less questions, an easy way to reassess progress if we'd like, and plenty of information about strengths and what to repair. Available for $39 (to Gottman) for clients of Approved Member therapist Shannon Batts.
    DONATE by clicking here to go to the checkout Square site where you can enter your donation of any amount and support resource redirection of free services to
    ​marginalized clients. 
    Or, Paypal.me/shannonbatts
    ​Thank you!
     
    Gottman Approved Member
    Proud Member of TherapyDen
    verified by Psychology Today
    Picture
    How to find a good marriage counselor?  Ask Shannon Batts in Portland, Oregon.  Note from Shannon: Make sure they have advanced training (not just degrees and licenses) with couples, can describe what they learned and how they deliver it to you, and are also HAPPILY married! Can they speak to their privilege or marginalizations and how they impact counseling with you?
    Shannon Batts, Licensed Professional Counselor of Portland, Oregon, lic# C2379, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for Californians, lic# MFT 34477, is Marriage Friendly, with better than neutrality toward the outcome of your life long love commitment. Shannon Batts is a Portland, Oregon counselor, with advanced skills, education and training in assisting couples (extremely rare among counselors). Lesbian, gay, trans, mixed gender identity, questioning gender, nonbinary, and straight couples of all ages seek out tools and support for their relationships from Shannon Batts. Shannon trains ongoingly to be antiracist and is a facilitator and consultant at Race Talks PDX. Transgender, Black Americans, or unhoused clients will find amazing flexibility in counseling rates if you need it because you've been through enough!


    ​

    www.couplesintransition.com and www.spousesgroup.com also arrive here at https://relationshipgardening.com/
    so as to direct couples facing gender transition to excellence in support for making it through transition together.

    Electronic/internet based communication is not a guarantee of privacy as it is always subject to security breach or hacking. You do maintain the right to email, text or video chat regardless of the risk.
     Shannon is the counselor's counselor where couples go to grow a happy marriage, with Gottman research based relationship and marriage help and telehealth video sessions.  Marriage Counseling, couples' coaching, premarital counseling, help for transgender or non binary coming out in marriage, support for spouses of transgender or non binary partners, couples group for transgender partners and cisgender spouses, questioning gender in your marriage, gender affirming referral letters, marriage retreats, marriage workshops, antiracist coaching for engaged couples, antiracism groups for white people, antiracism couples groups, antiracism groups for professionals, custom antiracism groups, marriage affairs or adultery, porn or sex addiction or compulsion in your marriage, couples communication training-whatever you call it-make sure your best marriage counseling choice in CA, or in Portland, Oregon has Advanced Gottman Institute aka Relationship Research Institute training.  A Gottman trained therapist like Shannon Batts knows how to move couples from sticky negativity to a garden of new possibilities from the very first couples' session.  Services available by Zoom for all of CA and OR. relationshipgardening.com