“Behind every great relationship are difficult and uncomfortable conversations we rarely get to see. Great relationships don’t just fall into our laps. They require people to move through their fears and insecurities and do the hard work to move wounds into healing”

–Vienna Pharaon-

Maintaining healthy relationships can require constant work and maintenance, much like a car. Often we can do some of the basic maintenance and repairs ourselves. Other times, despite our best efforts, it may be best if we considered couples therapy, where a Clinical Psychologist can take a look at your relationship and give you a hand.

As a Clinical Psychologist, my role in couples therapy is to help couples build the communication skills they need to negotiate life’s challenges, and this in turn contributes to a sense of fulfilment in their relationship.

Couples therapy can be useful at various points in the lifespan of a romantic partnership, and assist in:

• Assisting couples in negotiating the different life stages of their relationship over time
• Managing different socialization needs
• Negotiating different parenting styles
• Discussing different financial management styles
• Balancing different sexual needs
• Negotiating the boundaries of fidelity and dealing with the impact of breaches of these boundaries
• Pre-marital Counselling
• Co-parenting Therapy

Read more at https://www.talkspace.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-couples-therapy/

When working with a couple, I see each partner on their own before starting joint sessions. This gives me a full picture of the challenges you are facing. It also allows each partner an unfiltered space to vent before joint sessions.

Once each partner feels heard, and we’ve addressed hindrances to a joint process, we create a joint therapeutic space. This is a space where both partners can work towards a more satisfying relationship.

When and who should consider Couples Therapy?

The earlier the better! As soon as a couple you identify dissatisfactory elements at any point in the relationship. Couples therapy is for individuals in partner relationships, whether dating, committed/engaged or married. As such, all relationships can benefit from couples therapy: straight or gay relationships, interracial relationships, young teen or college relationships, and relationships with a large age gap.