Couples therapy is for people who want to better understand their relationship and deepen their connection by more fully communicating with and caring for each other. The goal of couples therapy is to provide a setting in which both partners can safely explore their relationship, gain insight into their diffferences, and create desired change. I help couples safely explore difficult issues from each person's perspective and resolve issues in a manner that meets the needs of both individuals.
My approach to couples counseling is largely informed by Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). EFT is an empirically validated, structured approach to couples therapy that offers a comprehensive theory of adult love and attachment, as well as a process for healing distressed relationships. It recognizes that relationship distress results from a perceived threat to our basic human needs for safety, security, and closeness in intimate relationships. This approach enables me to help partners initiate new bonding interactions that replace negative cycles of interaction, moving away from conflict deadlock into a sense of secure bonding between partners. This sense of trust, security, and safety becomes self-reinforcing to create permanent relationship change. The relationship therefore becomes a safe haven and a healing environment for both partners.