Couples Therapy
Relationships can face a lot of challenges. Sometimes you know exactly what happened that triggered the problems you’re facing. Sometimes it feels like you’re stuck in a negative pattern and just can’t talk to each other anymore.
Couples therapy provides a supportive, non-judgmental space to identify problems, talk about issues that are contributing to broken trust, and work to restore relationships.
What Happens to a Relationship When Life Changes?
Relationships can change as we move through life.
What used to work well doesn’t help anymore. Sometimes we find ourselves needing to communicate differently or manage changes we didn’t expect.
Maybe you keep having the same argument. Maybe you’ve grown apart over the years. Maybe something happened that changed the relationship.
Or perhaps you still care deeply about each other, but you’re no longer sure how to reconnect.
You may be asking yourself questions such as:
How do we manage different views on family, children, or co-parenting?
Can we reconnect after years of growing apart?
Why do we keep having the same arguments? Is it even possible to fix this?
How do we enjoy being together again?
What happened to our relationship?
Can we repair our relationship after years of resentment?
Is it possible to rebuild trust?
Have we taken each other for granted for too long?
Is it too late to fix this?
Is it even worth staying together?
Reconnect. Communicate. Decide what comes next.
With more than 20 years of experience supporting people through different stages of life, I understand that relationships don’t exist in isolation. Parenting, changing family roles, career transitions, health concerns, and other major life transitions all impact the way we relate to each other.
You may still care deeply about each other, but need to find new ways to manage issues and connect with each other as your lives change.
What to Expect:
Starting couples therapy is an opportunity to strengthen your relationship in a supportive, non-judgmental space. Whether you’re seeking marriage counselling, relationship support, or help managing communication difficulties, the process is intended to help both of you feel heard and understood.
When you begin couples therapy, we typically first meet together for one session. This gives you both a chance to talk with me about what brought you to couples therapy. Then I’ll meet with you both individually so you can have a chance to share more about your perspective on things. This is to give you a chance to talk openly, without being interrupted or feeling that you have to censor yourself. Afterwards, we’ll meet again together to discuss a plan for moving forward.
Every couple has a unique story. The goal in couples therapy is not to assign blame or suggest that one person caused all the relationship challenges. Rather, the intention is to work with both people to understand the patterns that are keeping you stuck, build on existing strengths, and create a stronger connection.
Couples therapy may be helpful if you’re looking for support with concerns such as:
Feeling disconnected in your marriage or relationship
Having the same arguments over and over again
Finding it difficult to communicate or feel understood
Recovering from an affair or breach of trust
Adjusting to major life changes or transitions
Struggling with intimacy
Navigating parenting, caregiving, or family transitions
Learning healthier ways to work through conflict
Feeling uncertain about the future of your relationship
Strengthening your marriage and improving your connection as a couple
Approach:
I am trained in both Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) and the Gottman Method. Both are evidence-based approaches that help couples improve communication, better understand each other, and create more secure relationships.
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) focuses on identifying underlying emotional needs and strengthening the bond between partners. Together, we’ll work to understand relationship patterns and create healthier ways of connecting to each other.
The Gottman Method offers practical tools to help couples better manage conflict and recognize unhealthy communication patterns. This approach helps people better understand each other and create more positive interactions in their relationship.
Learn More About Couples Therapy
Take a look through commonly asked questions about couples therapy. You can also reach out anytime if you have additional questions.
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Couples therapy can help if you’re feeling disconnected, having trust issues, or can’t resolve conflicts. You don’t need to be in a crisis. Many people want to improve communication and strengthen their relationship to prevent future problems.
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Progress will look different for every couple. Couples therapy is not a quick fix. Meaningful change takes time.
You’ll likely start to notice changes such as feeling safer talking to each other, conflicts feel less intense, you’re able to express your needs easier, and you feel better understood. -
Absolutely. Couples therapy is available to people at any stage of their relationship. The focus is on supporting your relationship, regardless of marital status.
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Couples therapy typically involves both partners. However, if your partner isn’t ready to attend, individual therapy can still provide a space to explore your needs and concerns about the relationship.
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No. The primary goal is to help both people feel heard and understand each other’s perspectives. The intent is not to assign blame. Rather, it is to help you work together towards a healthier relationship.
