Great Couples Counselling in Anmore, BC. Therapy to heal relationships.

Couples Therapy can be very helpful to clients who are going through a difficult period in their lives. Some examples, are separation and divorce, marital conflict, communication issues, feelings of betrayal or loneliness. I help build communication between couples members and help them process any anger, resentments and improve their communication skills with each other.

There are now known, research-proven behaviors that predict the success or split of a couple! And we also know that just teaching new skills to couples doesn't ensure the relationship will improve over time. What works best is helping couples learn how to shift out of states of being that keep them from using the skills they learn. If you are on a familiar track of fighting or fleeing, you may find it impossible to use helpful relationship skills unless you can shift your state of mind. It also help couples to get a broader and deeper perspective on what's going on in their relationship, so they can make decisions that work.

My Approach to Couples Counselling includes - Providing you the tools for: Resolving Conflict and misunderstandings Effective problem solving Healthy ways to listen, talk and be heard Have a win-win relationship Moving past anger, resentment and bitterness Successfully changing self defeating behaviours Explore how your past affects your relationship/s Discover new ways to assist your life, It’s not just about your relationship, it’s also about you by building: Self-Esteem Love Intimacy Self worth Confidence Value Discovering how your personal past and baggage affect you Understanding what you need and your partner needs in a relationship And much more. Call now 604.290.1336

Where did your best friend go? Lets rekindle what used to be. How did you get here? If you didn't want to know you wouldn't be here! We meet oh the butterflies the highs, reality and boredom, we get engaged, the parties, reality the boredom, let's get married, wow the excitement again, reality boredom, lets buy a house, the reality the boredom, let's have children ooops now we are living parallel lives nothing in common and where did my best friend go? Are you ready to find them again?

Managing work, extended-family, career and important life-decisions may be affecting your current relationship. At times, everyday life-tasks erode our emotional, physical and sexual level of intimacy. Open, non-judgmental dialogue may be helpful in righting the direction of your "couple" path. Couples therapy is not intended to "fix" either partner. Rather, couples therapy seeks to identify how you function as a couple. Many couples feel it is easier to dialogue in the therapeutic environment rather than tackle issues on their own. Through open, honest and non-judgmental communication we will identify what works for each one of you, together.

Relationships can be a source of our greatest comfort and our greatest distress. Many couples come to a place where they feel stuck, repeating the same patterns that seem to lead nowhere. When we feel emotionally disconnected from our partners, life can feel overwhelming. Counseling can help provide a new way of being with one another and offer the hope of safety and re-connection.

I am trained in the Gottman Couples Therapy Method developed by renowned therapists and researchers, Dr.'s Julie and John Gottman. This theory is based on over 25 years of research with couples and has been proven to be successful in helping couples overcome their relationship struggles. I use this approach in my work with both individuals and couples. I help clients determine their unique challenges and apply a variety of strategies to mend these challenges.

I work with couples resolving problems and conflicts that they have not been able to handle effectively on their own. I work with both partners to discuss their thoughts and feelings in order to help them gain a better understanding of themselves and their partner. My couple counselling practice integrates the Gottman Method and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT).

Do you feel alone in your relationship? Are you tired of nagging? Do you freeze, shut down, or walk on eggshells? I help each partner feel secure in the relationship, and able to express their deepest longings, and hear each other. Together, I help couples shift away from negative interactions, and become fully engaged in a positive connection. I clarify what is going on beneath the surface in your relationship, and assist you in recognizing the problem interactions, and deeper emotional needs, so that we can team up to deal with it together. I mentor you to understand each other's experience, so you can take over managing your relationship yourselves in a caring, fulfilling way.

Most couples get stuck at some point in their relationship. Intimacy is challenging for most us! I have a 2 pronged approach: I teach communication and conflict resolution skills as well as going deeper to discover the driving forces which lead to conflict. Conflict, once resolved, can lead to greater intimacy. The struggles you are facing now are the key to future deeper happiness and fulfillment and an opportunity for growth. I work with all types of couples.

In an environment of safety and respect, it is my hope that each person will develop a greater self-awareness and a sincere willingness to change. Couples will learn to listen to and understand the feelings and needs of their partner, as well as to communicate their own more effectively. Couples will identify the repetitive negative patterns in their relationship that create distress and alienate one from the other. Each person also will explore negative thought and behaviour patterns within themselves, and relevant past issues that may be contributing to their difficulties. It is my hope that couples will discover that they do have the capability to build a healthy relationship.

Couples counselling helps couples of all types recognize and resolve conflicts and improve their relationships. Couples counseling gives couples the tools to communicate better, negotiate differences, problem solve and even argue in a healthier way. No matter the cause, distress in a relationship can create undue stress, tension, sadness, worry, fear and other problems. A bad relationship may lead to physical or psychological problems, such as depression. A bad relationship can also create problem on the job and affect other family members or even friendships. Couples counseling can help couples to strengthen their partnership and gain a better understanding of each other.

Achieve clear and effective communications, learn to speak about expectations and disappointments, set boundaries and mutual goals, ease tension and conflicts, discuss and process past hurts, learn the freedom in taking responsibility or owning our actions, patterns, and projections. These are some of the benefits of couples counseling. Where appropriate, we incorporate Art therapy or creative activities that can be completed both separately and together to assist in your particular the healing journey.

What is a couple? Two separate individuals who are coming together as one for the purpose of friendship, intimacy, and companionship. Often the "couple entity" falls apart along the way. I can help you to reach the goals that you decide, and to help determine the path you wish to travel. Specific issues with couples can be regarding sexual intimacy, financial difficulties, and communication problems. You are not alone. Together we can find the best solution for you and your partner.

Relationships are one of the most important areas of our lives. They effect our overall life satisfaction and are crucial to our health and longevity. This has been my area of focus and specialty for the last 20 years. I am a Gottman educator and have had their advanced training. I have also had training with Sue Johnson, Dan Siegel and attachment research as well as other respected researchers. I have had excellent outcomes with couples who are willing to work and change to develop a secure relationship. If that is you, as an individual seeking to change their couple relationship for the better or as a couple, I would be delighted to facilitate your success.

Relationships can be difficult to manage when there is a pile of problems. Couples therapy can improve communication and provide a safe environment to approach difficult topics. My practice is informed by The Gottman Method, the works of Dr. Brene Brown, and the Response Based Approach for those who are experiencing violence. I believe couples work can only be done when there is a space where all parties feel worthy and dignified.

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.

Many couples struggle with communication and "feeling heard". Over time a once happy and vibrant relationship can begin to decay through hurt feelings, anger, lack of attention, feeling valued, infidelity, the strain of children, childhood issues, and much more. We focus to heal the wounds of the past and rebuild the love and trust within the relationship. We work to equip both partners with a voice and ability to effectively listen and hear one another. We will work together to establish individual boundaries within the relationship, while creating a stronger and healthier connection. Our goal is to equip each couple with the tools they require for success, independent of counselling

Couples therapy is extremely rewarding. When couples are able to resolve conflict and learn to find their loving connection again it makes for a new beginning to their relationship. This often transfers to the rest of their family--their children. What a wonderful gift for your family. My approach to couples therapy is to find out where a couple is, then find ways to mend the problem area by encouraging more open communication in a safe environment. Also, by providing psycho-educational information about what the latest research on marital therapy reveals about healthy marriages, couples have a blueprint from where to set goals and make some changes.

As a Marriage Therapist, Couples counsellor and Sex Therapist, I specialize in helping couples experience more joy and connection in relationship. After completing a relationship assessment which will give you a concrete and very specific blueprint of your strengths as a couple as well as an outline of your individual experience of what isn't working I will help you develop very practical tools so you can change how you communicate, heal trust issues, create emotional safety and address Addiction, Anger or other issues. Resolving conflict and growing the love you have will allow you to develop a deeper intimate connection and rekindle the passion you once shared.

The research around attachment tells us that having a sense of closeness with others is essential to our well-being. When partners feel a lack of connection, it can touch on past wounds that may even exacerbate the present difficulties. All couples go through challenging times, and it is important that both individuals remain allies, even through trouble. Skilled couples counselling can support this, and help the relationship become stronger than ever before. I draw from a number of approaches when working with couples, especially Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and communication approaches such as Non Violent Communication.

Having a marital crisis? Having trust issues? Have you experienced a betrayal or an affair? Contemplating a separation? Fighting, arguing, just not on the same page about money, work, kids, home, or family. Find yourself distancing from your partner? Starting up a new relationship or contemplating marriage? Not getting the love you want? Whatever your relationship issues I can help. I specialize in couples therapy and I can help you understand the negative loop you may find yourself in. I will give you tools for better, clearer communication, tools to rebuild trust, friendship, intimacy and strengthen your relationship bond and help you move forward in whatever manner works best for you.

Couples counselling regardless of the form of the relationship is always about communication. Each person comes to the relationship with his/her own past guilt and fear. If these ideas can be clearly communicated and be seen to be worked on each person can then be supportive and loving to the other. Relationships are where our greatest emotional investment lies and therefore is always a great opportunity to look at what we contribute or deny with the help of somone who loves us.

Most people choose a partner who reminds them in a way of their parent/caretaker with whom they had an unsatisfying relationship. So often they try to re-play the past relationship in the present, and the two different scenarios usually interlock, resulting in re-enactment of the past relations. So, instead of having someone who will help 'heal our wounds', we end up with somebody reinjuring us through defensive behaviors. I use a 'mirroring' technique: it consists of helping the couple to paraphrase each other and then offer attuned empathic responses. What this means is that partner B is invited to make an emphatic statement to A about what he/she imagines A is feeling.

I work with couples of different cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientation, genders, and lifestyle. I help couples build on their strengths to improve their communications, increase their feelings of intimacy, support one another more fully when they experience life changes, negotiate their differences and reduce the intensity and frequent of disagreements, and help them remember why they chose each other as partners.