COUPLES THERAPY

“What can make a marriage [or relationship] work is surprisingly simple. Happily married couples aren’t smarter, richer, or psychologically more astute than others. But in their day-to-day lives they have hit upon a dynamic that keeps their negative thoughts and feelings about each other (which all couples have) from overwhelming their positive ones. They have what I call an emotionally intelligent marriage.”
— The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman and Nan Silver

COUPLES THERAPY

Are you and your partner having the same conflicts over and over again?  Have you and your partner tried different ways to improve your communication and relationship, but find yourselves frustrated when old patterns of behaviors resurface?

Couples therapy helps when repeated patterns or conflicts, or challenging circumstances are causing problems in the relationship.  I help create a safe space where both partners can give voice to their perspective and feel understood.  Through ongoing reflection on the dynamics and each partner’s needs, the couple moves toward mutual understanding and develops greater capacity to communicate empathy in the relationship.

The result of good couples therapy tends to bring partners closer together, repair old wounds, and generally help bring about greater compassion, intimacy and closeness in the relationship.

Some issues that bring couples to therapy

  • Difficulties in communication and understanding one another's needs

  • Trust and/or infidelity issues

  • Intense conflict and fighting

  • Premarital counseling

  • Sex and intimacy, money, parenting issues

  • Destructive or harmful behaviors from one or both partners

Benefits of couples counseling

  • Improved communication

  • Improved trust and intimacy within the relationship

  • Deeper understanding of themselves and their partner

  • Reduction of stress and conflict within the relationship

  • Increased awareness of potential triggers of conflict and strife

  • Improved coping skills when conflicts arise

  • Increased ability to empathize with partner and meet each other's needs