Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy is for partners, whether married or unmarried, early in the relationship or many years into the relationship. Couples Therapy is intended for issues relating to a relationship.

You can choose Couples Therapy for strengthening your relationship, managing conflict issues, improving communication, or addressing long standing patterns. There are a variety of reasons for starting Couples Therapy.

I take an attachment approach to Couples Therapy, specifically using Emotionally Focused Therapy. This style goes deeper to understand what is driving the root causes of issues. I help partners to understand their own roles in their couples dynamic and “cycle” pattern so that they are able to not only address difficulties in therapy, but eventually while at home together.

It is a passion of mine to help partners build connection, repair connection, and reconnect throughout their relationship journey. Our partner has the ability to be our best Soothing Connection, if we take time to create the safety and security we need. I very much enjoy helping partners to do this in therapy.

If you have any questions about if Couples Therapy is a good fit for you, please reach out.

*Couples Therapy is offered in person at the St. Charles Office location

Couples Issues

  • Communication
    Conflict
    Disconnection
    Affairs
    Escalation
    Insecurity issues
    Damaged trust
    Ruptures
    Repairs

  • Anxious attachment
    Avoidant attachment
    Different attachment styles
    Pursuing strategies
    Withdrawing strategies
    Building attachment security
    Coregulation
    Avoidance
    Distancing

  • Connection
    Coregulation
    Support
    Communication

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy Sessions & What to Expect

  • Session 1: Together

    During our first session, both partners will attend.
    The purpose of this session is first for both of you to get familiar with the office space, to begin building safety and comfort as we build our connection together, and to ask any questions you have.
    If you’re not familiar with Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples yet, I will give you some background to understand my approach and the way we will work together.
    I will help you understand each of our roles throughout therapy and how EFT often looks different than some other couples therapy and why I use this method.
    My goal is to get to know your relationship in this session.

  • Session 2: One Partner

    During the second session, only one partner will attend.
    Most often it does not matter which partner goes first and can be a scheduling preference.
    The purpose of this session is to learn the background of the partner attending, specifically I am prioritizing getting to gnow and understand your relational attachment history, and to further assess how best to support you in our sessions together.
    Sometimes an additional session is scheduled if more time is needed.

  • Session 3: Next Partner

    During the third session, the other partner will attend.
    The purpose of this session is to learn the background of the partner attending, specifically I am prioritizing getting to gnow and understand your relational attachment history, and to further assess how best to support you in our sessions together.
    Sometimes an additional session is scheduled if more time is needed.

  • Sessions 4-20+: Together

    The remaining sessions will be attended together. Sessions will start only when both partners are present.
    The purpose of these sessions is to continue to build understanding of the relationship, the moves each partner takes, and the impact of those moves on the other partner and the relationship.
    We work together as a team to help the relationship heal and grow by deescalating, addressing core conflict patterns, identifying needs and longings, repairing as needed, creating new patterns, and building sustainable growth.