Great Couples Counselling in Rocky View County, AB. Therapy to heal relationships.

Most people want communication skills. Granted, those are needed but improving a relationship, increasing connection and intimacy, and navigating difficult conversations around areas of differing opinions involves yourself - you are your most valuable ally in any relationship. Understanding yourself, your beliefs, reactions and having ways to 'show up differently' in the relationship are your best bet to feeling better about your relationship, no matter what aspect you want to work on. Through my therapy techniques, I invite you to understand yourself in relationship as well as learn more effective ways to know and be known, the incredibly courageous work of intimacy.

Sharing your life with another is one of the most difficult yet potentially rewarding experiences life has to offer. Creating and maintaining open and honest communication (learning to listen, summarize and validate are skills that must be taught and practiced) is key to the success with relationships of any kind. I can assist in helping build strong interpersonal skills that help break down barriers and strengthen connections.

When couples require counselling, it is often because there has been a breakdown in trust and communication. At times like these, it is important to have a third party involved that can promote progress through evidence-based therapeutic techniques. Here at Virtuous Circle Counselling, we offer in-person and virtual sessions to couples in need so that they can find their way to a healthier future.

I help couples by focusing on two goals: (1) Communicating constructively about issues; (2) Having a strong relationship friendship. I help couples achieve these goals by giving them skills from Gottman's Sound Relationship House Model and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). I am trained in Gottman's model and am certified in CBT.

We offer couples counseling and focus on the strengths of each couple to assist them in working better as a team. We help each couple learn to validate each other and encourage open and honest communication with each other. We seek to instill hope and respect into each couple with whom we work. Our therapists offer couples counseling in person in Duluth and Hinckley; as well as, online through E-Services.

I offer mediation and communication techniques and strategies designed to help couples navigate difficult events and situations. I will work with you to gain a deeper understanding of your partner's and your own experiences which may be contributing to miscommunications within the relationship. We will work together to identify common goals and develop a treatment plan specific to your relationship concerns and challenges.

Do you or your partner suffer from social anxiety and it's affecting your relationship? Social anxiety is a fear of negative judgment from others and it can lead to reduced levels of intimacy, suppressed emotions, feelings of isolation and loneliness and lack of communication. If one or both of you feels anxious socially, your relationship may be suffering too. Contact me for ways in which you can move past social anxiety to a fuller, intimate, richer, relaxed more authentic relationship.

In a relationship, each member is responsible for an equal share of the dynamic. In a family, that means it splits between the amount of people, and in a couple it’s 50% created by each partner. This 50% is the result of the individual’s needs- both functional and dysfunctional. Functional needs relate to biological drives, culture, relationship goals, values, etc. Dysfunctional needs come from limiting beliefs, which are internalized in our childhood. They create needs like: the need to be in control, or the need to protect oneself. The needs, whether functional or dysfunctional, can balance each other out, creating a “stabilizer” or they can become unmet needs.

I employ the well researched and proven approach from the Gottman Method to help couples learn about and develop new ways to appreciate and develop greater fondness for each other. I help clients realize that truly the core of an intimate relationship is really friendship, and not necessarily the all encompassing passion and always being "in love" that popular media/culture have led us to believe that marriage should always be about. Marriages naturally wax and wane, and aren't always perfect; sometimes people fight and disagree and that doesn't always have to end in separation or divorce. There are no perfect marriages -- just ones that are good enough to make us feel happy and content

Helping couples can mean taking with a couple who has been dating for a few months and wants to improve their chances for success or couples who have cohabited for up to twenty years. I used the evidence based method of Gottman couples therapy and EMDR. These research based methods give clients in my opinion the greatest chance for success.

Whether you're just wanting to clarify that you're in a healthy relationship or you have specific issues to resolve, I can offer a neutral and non-judgemental space while helping you navigate yourself and each other. Working from an Emotionally Focused Therapy and Systems theory framework, I can help you uncover your true needs in a relationship and work through any barriers or obstacles to living a healthy and fulfilling life.

Relationships are both difficult and rewarding. Like most things of value, however, these intimate connections require intentional work in order to remain healthy and rewarding. Whether you are beginning a relationship or wishing to enhance an existing one, therapy can help you to discover and value each other's "owners manual" , communicate more effectively, and resolve conflict in a more timely and effective fashion.

Right now your struggles as a couple may feel overwhelming, but most situations can be turned around with the right help and a willingness to try. I have worked with many couples of every kind and lifestyle, without judgment. The sooner you start, the more you have to work with. I have been a psychologist since 1986 and a professor emeritus of counselling psychology. I am based in Calgary and see clients across Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick by secure video. Book a session now: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=14249112