What Is Couples Therapy

By Amun Kaur

Relationships are the most rewarding yet challenging life experience we can have. You may find yourself in a pattern of conflict and not know how you got there or how to move forward. The purpose of couples therapy is to improve or enhance relational functioning including increasing  feelings of appreciation, commitment, friendship & intimacy for one another.

The ultimate hope is that you stop seeing your partner as your opponent and rather, begin to foster empathy and understanding of your partners inner experience through a willingness and desire to be open to each other’s perspectives.

The goal is not to eliminate conflict entirely but to become acquainted with effective strategies to manage conflict in a healthy and productive way which includes bringing awareness to one another’s insecurities, fears, needs and negative interaction cycles, ultimately rebuilding connection.

Couples Therapy is for any stage of a relationship

• PREVENTION & MAINTENANCE for couples wanting to strengthen existing bonds;
• PRE-MARITAL COUNSELLING to help discuss important future concerns and learn more about one another’s values;
• DISCERNMENT COUNSELLING for couples in a state of ambivalence to gain clarity on the decision of committing to or terminating the relationship.

How does it work?

Our plan for therapy will depend on your unique needs as a couple but will generally commence as follows:

STAGE ONE:

Together as a couple, we will meet for an initial assessment session which includes an opportunity to discuss what may be bringing you to therapy and exploration of past attachment history.

STAGE TWO: 

Following these sessions, I will meet with each of you individually for an assessment to get a clear picture of presenting concerns and goals.

STAGE THREE:

Finally, everyone will come back together to conclude the assessments phase to understand relational dynamics and communication patterns, and to now discuss areas of focus for future sessions. Together we will address present issues, perpetual and deep-rooted concerns as well as uncover dysfunctional patterns which may be keeping you or your partner stuck in a cycle of conflict.