Couples Therapy

“Underneath all the distress, partners are asking each other: Are you there for me? Will you respond to me when I need you? Do I matter to you? Do you need me?” Sue Johnson

Most people crave healthy, loving relationships; but amid the hectic schedules and heavy demands of today’s world, many couples find it hard to maintain the closeness they felt during the earlier stages of their relationships. In a troubled relationship, distressed couples may feel stuck in negative cycles that they cannot untangle on their own. Frequently, partners feel criticized, attacked, or rejected and attack back or retreat into themselves. As these cycles continue, couples often end up feeling far apart from one another and very lonely.

All relationships have ups and downs; frequent arguments or difficult times do not necessarily mean that your relationship is over. Couples therapy aims to improve feelings of safety between partners so that they can once again turn to their partner for strength and support. Therapy sessions are designed to help couples learn to communicate more effectively, understand themselves and their partner better, learn how to create deeper intimacy, and refuel their desire towards each other.

In my doctoral studies, I had two major areas of emphasis- couples and family therapy and trauma. Additionally, in 2012, I started training in EFT (emotional focused therapy) for couples with the late Sue Johnson, the founder of this school of therapy. Over the years, I continued to study other major areas related to couples’ therapy including Gottman, Esther Perel, Imago and sex therapy and had weekly consultations in couples’ therapy with major trainers of EFT and Imago. I had participated in couples’ enrichment weekends both as a participant and as a clinician helping couples who attended these weekends and last but not least, I helped train other therapists in both beginning EFT couple therapy and advanced EFT couple therapy courses.