Couples

Marriage counseling and helping couples get through hard times is something I am passionate about. I hope to help you understand the pain, resentment, betrayal, fear, and loneliness that result from being disconnected and misunderstood in a relationship. 

 I want you find perspective and understanding (not justifying) with relationship issues and dynamics. I hope to help you find healing and choice for the hard decisons that need to be made. 

Some relationships are strong and thriving, but need better communication or a safe place to talk through struggles they are trying to make decisions about together. 

Some relationships are just starting out and want the set up of tools and a way of building and maintaining the strong bond through all of life's ups and downs.  

Some relationships have built up pain from feeling disconnected and not knowing how to talk about things for years. The pain from infidelity, addiction, struggles with intimacy, and differences in ways each of you want things to be done is incredibly overwhelming and hard to go through with a person you chose to love.  

I use Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples (EFCT). 

(Advanced Trainings Include: Externship, Core Skills, Beyond Core Skills, Supervision in group and individual using video recordings, and completed an EFIT training) 

It is a research based model developed by Dr. Sue Johnson and is used to help unpack arguments or conflict avoiding behavior between couples that result in disconnection, resentment, and/or feeling alone. EFT uses attachment theory and explores how emotions can impact the way we communicate with the other the person. The difference with EFT, my favorite part, is that you will be doing the work in therapy with me and not just filling out worksheets and trying to do the changes on your own at home. As you notice patterns and change the way you interact, the therapist is walking next to you helping you make sense of what's going on and helping you use new patterns to create a more secure bond and feelings of understanding. 

Humans naturally find any way possible to move away from pain inside. The ways we learn to do this and protect ourselves make sense, unfortunately, these good reasons and intentions don't allow for the vulnerability needed to create connection. 

     EFCT can help you in all relationships in your life with friends and other family members, as well.