Couples Therapy
Therapy Modalities
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
Emotionally focused couples therapy is a transformative experience that can put you back in touch with your partner. Instead of the same old emotions of anger, frustration, resignation, partners are brought closer as we identify what emotions are going on below the surface. Fear? Loss? Loneliness? These are what we call “primary emotions.”” They are at the root of the tension. Together you and your partner will identify where the surface level emotions are actually coming from. Once this core bond is re-experienced this way, it becomes possible to feel empathy for your partner. Anger is never easy to respond to, but chances are there’s a lot more to your pain than anger alone.
Motivational Interviewing
At the core of relationship distress there is often ambivalence. After all, you and your partner have tried, tried and tried again and things keep ending up the same. After months, years, of suffering in your relationship, you may be torn between competing emotions—love for your partner, and hopelessness that it won’t work; desire to try and fear that you won’t be able to trust again. In motivational interviewing, I will help you resolve some of this ambivalence, freeing you to make the choices you want, rather than feeling that every choice is the wrong one. Together we will identify your desire for change, confidence that things can change and how it would look if things did change in the way you most hope.
Gottman Method
In Gottman couples therapy we will help you explore things you may have never known about your partner—their hopes, dreams, ideals. You and your partner will start to respond to each other’s bids for affection by “turning toward” one another, and responding with love and interest. You will learn how to build a reserve of positive emotion so that when conflict does emerge, things don't escalate. You and your partner will begin to support, love, and encourage one another in ways you may have thought no longer possible.