top of page

For Couples

"Too often, what couples do not see is that most fights are really protests over emotional disconnection. Underneath all the distress, partners are desperate to know: Are you there for me? Do you need me? Do you rely on me?" -

- Sue Johnson

Even in the strongest relationships, connection can fray. Communication turns into misunderstanding. Conflict becomes a loop you can’t seem to break. You may feel more like roommates than partners or stuck in painful cycles of blame, withdrawal, or silence.

 

Whether you’re navigating a crisis or simply feel the spark has dimmed, couples counselling offers a safe space to slow down, understand what’s really happening beneath the surface, and find your way back to each other.

How I Work with Couples

My approach to couples therapy combines Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with body-based (somatic) practices, both grounded in the science of attachment. We all long to feel seen, understood, and supported by those we love. When that sense of emotional safety gets disrupted by stress, trauma, or old wounds and it often shows up in the way we talk (or don’t talk), argue, or pull away.

 

Rather than staying at the surface, we’ll explore the deeper emotional needs and patterns that are shaping your interactions. We’ll also gently bring awareness to what’s happening in your body (your posture, tone, gestures) because the body often communicates what words can’t.

 

Together, we’ll learn how to:

  • Understand the cycle you’re caught in and how you each contribute to it

  • Express emotions and needs in ways that invite connection, not conflict

  • Recognize physical cues and regulate reactivity in the moment

  • Rebuild trust, safety, and intimacy step-by-step

What Our Sessions May Look Like

Couples sessions are typically 90 minutes. They’re active, supportive, and designed to meet you where you are.

 

As we talk, I’ll observe your dynamic with curiosity and care. Are there subtle signs of defensiveness or withdrawal? Is one of you shutting down while the other escalates? I’ll reflect what I see and help you both understand how those patterns are working and how they’re likely rooted in past experiences, not just current frustrations.

 

We may try out new ways of engaging in the moment such as simple, heartfelt statements or small physical shifts that allow something different to happen. These moments often open up insight, softness, or clarity in ways that traditional talk therapy alone may not.

 

Between sessions, you’ll be invited to try new approaches with each other and reflect on what happens. The goal isn’t to get it perfect but to become more aware, more connected, and more compassionate toward yourselves and each other.

The Benefits of This Approach

  • Deeper understanding of yourself and your partner

  • Better communication and conflict resolution

  • Reconnection with intimacy, trust, and affection

  • Tools for staying emotionally regulated during difficult moments

  • A path forward, even when things have felt stuck for a long time

 

This work is effective with many kinds of couples and many kinds of challenges from long-standing conflict to the stress of parenting, infidelity, grief, or disconnection.

 

You don’t have to stay stuck in the same loop. With care, curiosity, and practice, it’s possible to create new patterns—and rediscover the relationship you want to build together.

"We don’t heal in isolation, but in connection." — Gabor Maté

bottom of page