Couples Therapy
COUPLES THERAPY WITH THE RELATIONSHIP RESOURCE
We tend to have high hopes for our relationships these days. Fortunately, scientific research has taught us a great deal about what it takes to make relationships thrive over the long term.
Unfortunately, applying the science is not always a straightforward process as we as humans tend to be multifaceted and complicated. While some might say that falling in love is easy, learning to successfully navigate challenging relationship differences is often more of a challenge and one that often shows up at the same time that we are dealing with other life stressors. Whether you are proactively trying to look after your relationship before an upcoming transition i.e. moving in, marriage, parenthood, etc. or in the throws of relational suffering, there is no need to wait to start couples therapy, in fact, “the sooner the better” is often accurate when it comes to protecting an already strong relationship or supporting a relationship that has started to struggle.
Are you and your partner preparing for a significant life change?
Are differences in preferences or values starting to emerge?
Are you and your partner in a repetitive pattern of conflict?
Are you feeling misunderstood by your partner?
Has the closeness and intimacy in your relationship been replaced with distance and disappointment?
Do external life stressors or internal symptoms of stress, anxiety, or trauma get in the way of relating healthily to each other?

While the notion of living happily ever after makes for enticing fairy tales…
…the truth is that daily stressors, protective walls, financial pressures, and intimacy challenges can contribute to challenges in even the highest quality relationships. Since no one quite matters to us like our life partner, the bond can be at once the most rewarding and challenging bond to navigate. Relationship quality and satisfaction over the long term requires ongoing effort, reflection, vulnerability, and commitment.
Whether you are married, dating, or single, couples therapy or relationship counselling can support a process of healing and connecting such that you are able to:
De-escalate and exit unhelpful conflict patterns and replace these with more effective conflict management.
Become a better listener so as to support each other with feeling heard and better understood.
Process significant hurts, betrayals, attachment injuries for the sake of learning, repairing, and reconnecting with a sense of security in the relationship.
Rebuild or strengthen your sense of friendship, appreciation, connection, fun, closeness, and intimacy with each other.
“Sustaining relationships with others requires a good relationship to ourselves.”
– Terrence Real

I would be honoured to support you in your relationship work.
I aim to work with couples in an accepting and non-judgmental way that focuses on both emotional experiences and practical skills. I use a variety of theories and practice models (i.e. family systems, Gottman Method Couples therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy) to support the growth of relationships that minimize their time spent in patterns of interaction that feel highly distressing and maximize their time spent in connected, attuned, and secure patterns of relating.