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

Couples counselling tends to focus on relationship issues between the couple. Types of issues range from enhancing relationships, seeking deeper connection, improving communications, preparing for marriage or living together, areas of disagreement, values, expectations, infidelity, pregnancy issues, family related issues, and joint decision making. My person-centered approach and solution focused therapy tends to be effective for most couples. The benefits to the couple can be wide ranging and include enhanced communications, greater intimacy and higher relationship satisfaction.

I'm a down-to-earth, client-centered counsellor that can bring new hope to you and new life to your relationships. I specialize in marriage and couples counselling. I'm trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Gottman Couples Therapy. With over ten years of experience, I have the tools to get your relationship back on track. I also offer intensive therapy for highly distressed couples. I'm here and ready to listen with warmth, kindness and compassion, without any judgement or criticism.

Our training includes the Gottman Model for couples therapy, which is well-grounded in research. Couples learn how to rebuild their friendship, communicate in a way that does not make the conflict worse, and build emotional intimacy. Relationships are like plants; if we forget to feed the plant every day, it starts to wilt and will eventually die. Indeed, with the demands of our daily lives, our relationships tend to take a back seat - at first, our relationships seem to endure; however, over time, the lack of priority starts to show. We will give you the tools and skills needed to feel satisfied in how you communicate with your spouse, and increase your commitment to one another.

The first step with my approach to couples therapy is for us to establish rapport as you inform me of the problem that has brought you to therapy. I use a Choice Theory approach which includes defining more closely what each of you want for yourselves as individuals and the relationship as a whole. From there, we get to work on rebuilding trust in the relationship by enhancing communication skills so each of you feel listened to, heard, and respected. Then we can build on trust to establish the changes needed to restore the happiness that brought you together in the first place.

What are the most common couples' issues? If you are thinking "communication, conflict, sex, money, child rearing" you are correct. However, most therapists will go after the symptom on each side of the couple fence thinking that the way to effective change is by getting each party to "work" on their respective "issue". Many times the parties don’t agree but comply. Imagine if you could align the unconscious brains of a couple and stop the "working on your issues" part that has become so popular in therapy settings? Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com to learn how! Or call 877-606-6161. DR. FLEMING'S NEW RELATIONSHIP/COUPLES INTENSIVES. www.kevinflemingphd.com/marriage-couples-retreats.php

Over time relationships can break down. Stressors enter our lives is communication becomes difficult. Loving couples get into a "blame game" of criticism, contempt and disdain; Respect goes out the window and in the end, the relationship "killer", resentment and all that it brings. If resentment begins to creep into your relationship, seek help. An experienced and trained counsellor can help guide you around the resentment "minefield", move communication to a healthy and more empathic place so that resentment turns into resolution.

I work with couples using Gottman Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy and Attachment Therapy. I will help you identify your maladaptive patterns of behaviour and improve your communication skills. There is no shame in getting some coaching in how we connect with each other and how we can better meet each others needs. I use a strengths based approach to help you see the positives and remember why you fell in love.

Couples are the shuffling of two different sets of life experiences and expectations, and two different family cultures. Mix in a few kids and the normal stressors of life and the differences can become stark sometimes necessitating a little outside insight. My approach tends to be a narrative therapy one. Each of us has a story we tell ourselves about our relationship and my job is to help bring those narratives closer together.