Great Couples Counselling in Guelph, ON. Therapy to heal relationships.

Too many people start at the end with couple work. My approach takes a good solid look at the history created to get you there. Then we search for the skills to ensure that you are able to complete the change your seeking- often people require active listening and talking skills as a beginning point. Too often people come to me presenting an issue and focusing on confrontation and conflict resolution before they can even comprehend the issues of one another....tells me how many people actually learn to run before they walk? Couple work isn't about who is "right" but rather where are we going and how do we get there (and a little of how did we get so lost?).

Couples can often become fixated on repairing their partners’ behavior and waiting for the other to change before feeling content in the relationship. However, in my work with couples, I have found it fruitful to explore how each person in the relationship is contributing to a dynamic that they would like to change. I also believe that therapy should be a space where each person can express their views and feel validated and accepted by their partner(s). Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure we are a good fit.

In couples therapy skills to share needs, wants and emotions without blaming or attacking are learnt that can help couples grow in intimacy and have a sustainable, happier relationship. Emotionally Focused Couples therapy and Gottman therapy focus on the importance of having honest, respectful and open communication in relationships. This is something that is not often taught to us as children in fact we often learn the opposite.

Healthy relationships take commitment & work. I help couples increase emotional intimacy & connection. I help them stop unhelpful ways of interacting, achieve resolution to their unresolved conflicts, & take responsibility for their negative contributions to patterns. Couple relationships require re-committing ourselves to each other repeatedly throughout the length of our relationship. I will help you to learn to "turn towards" one another. I will also help you to eliminate the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a phrase coined by couple researches John and Julie Gottman. Lastly, all couple relationships include pursuer-distancer patterns. I will help you identify these and work to stop them.

Over the years I have worked with many configurations of couples; same sex, open, non-binary. I tend to draw from an emotionally-focussed approach and find moments of tender vulnerability to be so profoundly healing. I also really enjoy creative "out of the box" outdoor experiential activities that I orchestrate based on the particular couple and their concerns. I find these activities can become playful and bonding for couples.

In couples counselling, I focus on strengthening the bond between the couple by improving the communication between them and understanding the needs and wants of the other person and of themselves. I provide them with various skills that helps them build a healthier relationship that they could cherish.I follow Gottman's method for couple's counselling.

Would you like tips on how to communicate with your partner? How about learning how to argue fairly and come to a compromise or solution? Would you like help in restoring the gratitude you once had for your relationship and loved one? My therapeutic technique(s) using both talk therapy and active therapeutic strategies I.e. worksheets, couples homework assignments, etc can help you acknowledge areas in your relationship you would like to improve and provide practical strategies toward accomplishing both your individual and partnership goals.

Couples therapy is not just for times of trouble, it is also important for building a strong foundation to an already strong relationship. Our couples therapists focus on learning about your unique relationship and what each of you bring to the table. We tailor this process to what your relationships needs, which could be healing from a trauma, infidelity, loss, and/or life stress. We are here to help and to support your relationship.

Being in a relationship is hard, and knowing how to navigate a healthy relationship is even harder. It's okay if you don't have all the answers, if it's just you seeking support, or if you are not sure where to start. We can talk about how to navigate within your relationships and learn skills and tools to support your relationship better. I heavily rely on John Gottman's work to support my couple's work.

Over the course of your relationship, you are going to face its ups and downs. Learning how to meet all that life may throw at you, together as a couple and grow stronger in each experience are just some of the many benefits of couples counselling I provide. I help you develop the tools you need for when your relationship goes through a tough time. You'll learn how trust and open to your partner and feel safe, how to respond to your partner's needs during the good and the bad times, keep moving forward and blooming as the time goes by.

My background in relational therapy allows me to understand individuals through the relationships they cohabit. Couple therapy may be a vehicle for growth to occur both relationally and individually. This in turn may assist in bringing you closer to your desired goals through understanding and breaking down language used in romantic relationships. Throughout couple sessions, I lean towards emotionally focused therapy, as I have witnessed its transformative effects particularly in romantic relationships. Please contact me for a free consultation to learn more about my approach and to determine if we would be a good fit.

Asking for help can be the hardest step. You may be here because there’s been a lot of conflict recently, maybe you’re noticing that you and your partner aren’t as connected as you once were, or maybe you’re looking to build a resilient foundation for your relationship. I'm here to help couples build stronger bonds, navigate change, and grow together. I have additional training in helping couples navigate the intricacies of ADHD. Using evidence-based strategies, we can address communication patterns, manage conflicts, and deepen understanding. I offer free consultations to help you decide if I’m a good fit.

I’ve been helping people lead more intentional lives for over 20 years. Couples therapy supports you in reaching a fresh connection with your partner. You have the ability to have a meaningful relationship. I can help you learn the skills to communicate in a way that will get your needs met. I’m trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, developmental models,and anxiety and depression management. I will support you in creating a set of tools to help you discover your objective. Most importantly, you're a distinctive couple, with distinctive needs. My goal is to work with you as a unique couple, and focus on YOUR goals.

Couples Counselling Most relationships will become strained at some point and will begin producing maladaptive patterns. Relationship problems are rooted in our distorted egos, insecure attachment, emotional immaturity etc., which create to the many issues that develop for couples - infidelity, financial stress, poor communication, ill health, sexual divergence, household responsibility conflicts, addictions, etc., .... or just simply growing apart. Relationships can often be restored if help is sought soon enough. A counsellor can help reorient perceptions and emotions (how we look at a situation and how we feel about it) and assist the couple in adopting conscious structural changes.