Great Couples Counselling in Niagara on the Lake, ON. Therapy to heal relationships.

Relationships can be both motivating life enhancing and challenging or difficult. I can work with you to recognize unhealthy patterns and to replace them with healthy patterns. Also, we can work together to understand what might be getting in the way positive growth in you relationships. We can work toward finding changes you can make that will allow you to get greater satisfaction out of your relationships.

When it comes to couples, the total is greater than the sum of its parts. Therefore, in couple therapy, the focus is not on the two sides of the equation. Rather, the object of inquiry and therapy is the relationship between those two sides. The therapy examines the interpersonal relationship and treats it as a third space. Therefore, the goal is not to change the individuals but to change the way they communicate, understand, and accept each other. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Taking time with your loved one can be a beautiful and fulfilling experience. However, it can feel challenging when you and your partner are stuck in previous patterns of behaviour, communication, and interaction. As a couple therapist, I will support you in better understanding yourself, your loved one, and your relationship to navigate challenges (e.g., communication, attachment, trust, etc.). I seek to enable you and your partner to work as a team in navigating whatever struggles come your way and developing your own unique toolkit. Speak with me today for a free consultation to begin your journey.

The primary focus of couple therapy is the quality of interactions between the couple. Where resentment, frustration, and hurt have been an impediment to communication, counselling provides an opportunity for each person to have their concerns openly addressed and understood. I will help you understand your differences, resolve underlying contentious issues and provide you with opportunities to learn effective communication techniques so that you can enjoy positive meaningful interactions. As a seasoned relationship therapist, my ultimate goal is to enable a couple to experience a deeper level of connection, harmony and intimacy in their relationship.

Couples therapy and counselling aim to create a compassionate and dedicated space where partners can explore negative dynamics that are hindering their relationship. From a humanistic perspective, the goal is to focus on understanding each partner’s unique experiences and feelings and how these show up in our relationships with others. When we acknowledge and begin to address key issues in the relationship, such as conflict, loss of intimacy or a diminished connection the goal is to help guide couples through a rediscovery of each other, one that works to foster empathy, encourage open dialogue, and create moments of reconnection and reconciliation. I use a mix of the Gottman Method and EFT

Counseling helps you address your habitual pattern of mutual hurt in your relationship. My goal is to help you both to listen. Responsive listening, especially reflection of feelings, is the most helpful. Try to hear about his or her history, hurts, scars. You might well think and act differently in similar circumstances, but can you listen to what makes him tick? “Getting it” completely is impossible. Trying counts for a lot. Counselling helps you both to tune in to each other.

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.

I specialize in working with couples in crisis because of a betrayal, trauma, PTSD, addictions, and ADHD. I am a registered gestalt therapist with somatic experiencing training out of California. If you or your partner's trauma is impacting your relationship I am here to support you both. Healing can happen. If you are unable to leave your home because of the lack of childcare available we can arrange sessions for you and your partner once the kids are all tucked in or during the weekends! Couples therapy can be done very effectively via tele-therapy. Give me a chance to help you rescue your shitty relationship! -The tile of my soon to be published book- The Shitty Relationship

Intimate relationships are complex and have many moving parts. That’s why it’s common for couples to participate in counselling separately to get to know themselves better outside their romantic partnerships. Investing in your own mental wellness enables you to put your best foot forward in your relationships and ensure you're coming from a place of authenticity and honesty.

Are you and your partner struggling to connect or facing ongoing conflict? I’m Simona Ilieva, a Registered Psychotherapist specializing in couple therapy. Together, we’ll work to improve communication, rebuild trust, and strengthen your relationship. Whether you're dealing with intimacy issues, frequent arguments, or feeling disconnected, I’m here to help you both navigate these challenges and find a path forward. Every relationship can benefit from support, and with the right tools, you can create a healthier, more fulfilling partnership. No matter how stuck you feel, change is possible. Let’s take that step toward a stronger connection together. Book a free consultation today.