COUPLES THERAPY
BETRAYAL
"Do I even know you?"
"What did I do to deserve this?"
"How could you be capable this?"
ABANDONMENT
"You weren't there when I needed you."
"I'm all alone. Where are you?"
"You never cared about me."
DISCONNECTION
"All we do is fight."
"We never talk."
"We're like roommates."
Break Your Cycle
Get to the root
Whether this is your partner's idea or yours, I know this is not an easy step. To seek professional help outside of your relationship can feel humbling.
The last thing you want is to be psychoanalyzed, patronized, sided against, be told what to do, or made out to be the bad guy.
You don't want to be given fluffy solutions and assignments that don't actually help in the heat of the moment or long term.
I look beyond the content of the problems. I go beneath the surface to target the source of pain that corrodes your bond. I interrupt your back-and-forth conflict, because you do enough of that at home.
It's possible to feel more connected to your partner, as quickly as the very first session.
Combined Sessions
Combined couples sessions are where most of the positive changes occur. With both of you in the room, I can see the problematic cycle in real-time.
We will slow down the present moment and zoom in to micro-events that hold all of the information we need to get to the root of the conflict together.
Breakout Sessions
Individual breakout sessions are an important part of the couples therapy process. They help me develop an understanding and appreciation for each partner's experiences.
These sessions are also necessary to resolve individual "blocks" or deeply rooted protective responses due to past adverse experiences that show up during conflict between the couple.
Primary Treatment Modalities:
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)
Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO)
Offering in person sessions in Valrico, Florida or online via a secure telehealth platform.
COMMON QUESTIONS FROM COUPLES
ONE/BOTH OF US HAVE TRAUMA HISTORIES, CAN WE STILL DO COUPLES THERAPY?
Yes! This therapy is safe and effective for people with a history of trauma. Great care is taken to recognize and address the impact of trauma when it shows up in the session. The way our systems mobilize to protect us from being hurt again can be a barrier to connection. You may notice symptoms improve as a result, as each partner becomes a source of safety and security.
MY PARTNER CHEATED ON ME, IS IT POSSIBLE TO TRUST THEM AGAIN?
Yes, it is absolutely possible. I use a specific targeted model to address this. Deep wounds from betrayal can leave you with questions like:
How can they love me and do such a thing? Do I even know them? What did I do to deserve this? Is it my fault?
Feelings of devastation after relationship injuries require intensive effort to heal and repair. If you and your partner are committed to resolution, I will help you rebuild a trusting relationship to feel closer than ever before.
HOW MANY COUPLES SESSIONS DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO A GOOD PLACE?
The average couple takes about 8-20 sessions to reach a point where they feel securely bonded again. It can take longer if there is a history of trauma, addiction, significant relationship wounds, or if sessions aren't frequent enough. The recommended frequency is weekly or biweekly.
WHAT IS EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED COUPLES THERAPY (EFCT)?
EFCT is a powerful evidence-based psychotherapy that targets the root of conflict between couples. It's a short-term therapy (about 8-20 sessions) and follows a set of stages to heal a couple's fractured bond. It's experiential, meaning the major changes occur in the sessions (not with homework and assignments).