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

I provide couples counselling, because I believe in couples. Whether you are dating, common law, or married - problems can arise even when two people care and love each other. We work together seeing the couple and the individuals to work with the whole package, strengthening and adapting so you can form the foundation, skills and relationship you desire. Let's work together on the problematic areas so we can become better together.

Healthy relationships are extremely important to our happiness, health and well-being. In couples therapy, it is my ultimate goal to help both of you to come to a full and deep understanding of one another. Often times, couples get into disputes because of a lack of understanding of one another which can be due to time constraints, family difficulties, lack of knowledge of one another's beliefs, etc. In therapy, we will explore each person's background, beliefs and perspectives, and we will negotiate both so that they can work together in harmony. We will also look at the particular issue(s) that you have sought therapy and will work on remedying it by reestablishing an emotional connection.

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.

In providing couples therapy I follow the approach of Stan Tatkin. Stan Tatkin work focuses on helping a couple notice their reactions to their partner and learn how to support each other in their attachment needs. In part this approach is focuses on arousal regulation, current and past attachments, how our brain fires in relationships. The focus in this approach is on the couple and the “couple’s bubble”. Some of this work can include reflecting and managing the “thirds” in a relationship, i.e. others that impede or impact on the couple’s bond. I welcome you in contacting me for a free consultation session before setting up your couple’s therapy appointment.

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.

I have experience working within non-monogamous/open/poly(amorous, affective, fidelity) contexts. When considering couple/family counselling, it is important that everyone is open to the idea because it can be difficult work. Counselling with an intimate partner/s can be slow going but, usually, the goal is the development of a ‘communications toolkit’ that can be used in the longterm without further mediation. Couples/family counselling can also be valuable in the shorter term to resolve one or more specific conflicts or to break out of existing unhealthy dynamics thereby renewing respectful communication.

Couples are 2 people with different bodies and different life experiences, who are working together. This is an incredibly challenging task! Finding a meeting place that reminds you of your connection, as well as a place to heal wounds, is helpful to repair and to grow. I hope to facilitate this process in a safe, respectful space, where all people are heard, seen, respected and understood. Couples therapy can be extremely helpful in the early stages of a relationships, to strengthen communication, connection and resolve patterns prior to them becoming ingrained. I can also help with the process of separation. I welcome ALL couples into my practice including polyamorous, LGBTQ+

Couples therapy is a collaborative approach and a safe space to communicate how you feel. Marriage and couples counseling tends to deal with present-day events rather than the past. It focuses on the 'now' and the challenges of married life so that you can get your relationship back on track. Couples therapy deals with the present day but also any history that causes unhealthy patterns of relating. Using the Gottman Method, I focus on communication and conflict resolution and what areas need improvement where we will then learn about creating new connections and rituals. We will also focus on building new meanings and shared value systems that will help you strengthen your relationshi

Couples are supported to communicate more clearly with each other, as well as learn more positive communication skills, see the strengths in each other, and in the relationship. They will be encouraged to work on breaking down old, unhealthy habits and beliefs, and build healthy, positive relationship habits, that bring them together for deeper connection and bonding.

If you are in a relationship that is marked by conflict, chronic arguing, anger, frustration or feeling stuck in some way, counselling can give you some tools to help you move forward. If you are feeling emotionally disconnected or distant from your parter there are ways to reconnect with your loved one that can be quickly learned. If you have been impacted by addiction, particularly compulsive sexual behaviours, I can help you understand how to move forward in to new healthy patterns.

Communication skills are particularly useful for couples but often need to be learned and practiced. Past hurts need to be mended and cuts need to heal before trust and commitment can build a new foundation on which to move forward. Sometimes the early months of a relationship spark excitement and feelings of euphoria; however, these euphoric feelings give way to familiarity, and we start taking each other for granted. Relationship counseling promotes individual growth and awareness and works towards improved intimacy and deeper connection. Using the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) can help partners bring back the spark and give you new reasons to celebrate.