Couples Counseling
Empowering you to achieve happiness
Are you feeling disconnected and alone despite living with your partner?
Do you and your partner argue about the same things with little to no resolution?
Is there a lack of intimacy or a decrease in desire?
Has trust been compromised and you are having a hard time regaining it?
Have life events (children, job changes, illness, infidelity, loss) affected the relational dynamic?
Couples counseling aims to help you and your partner improve communication, increase intimacy, gain new perspectives, work through conflict, and ultimately strengthen your relationship. It requires individual accountability, motivation, and a shared commitment. You are shaped by your lived experiences and your past has a profound impact on how you think, feel, and behave in the present. Understanding the origin of your own communication style, perceptions you hold, and behaviors creates an opportunity for personal growth.
Couples counseling can be a powerful tool for gaining clarity about your relationship. It can help you explore your commitment, build motivation, and work together towards a more fulfilling future, regardless of the direction you ultimately choose.
We'll explore current communication patterns, past experiences, and personal values to:
- Identify areas for growth in your communication.
- Gain clarity on how past experiences, including trauma, may be impacting your relationship.
- Develop healthier coping skills and strengthen your bond.
- Uncover and celebrate your individual strengths and appreciate your unique differences.
- Express individual needs and wants while keeping a focus on the partnership
Positive, loving relationships fuel growth, wellness, and longevity. You can make that choice and take action. I am here to guide you through the process and help you build a stronger and healthier relationship.
My therapeutic approach is shaped by the principles of Gottman, Relational Life Therapy (RLT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), along with the teachings of Esther Perel.
I have experience working with diverse populations and my goal is for everyone who enters my office to feel comfortable and accepted.
If you are experiencing physical and/or emotional abuse/violence, reach out to Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence for assistance and resources.
what to expect (Pre-marital and in-depth counseling sessions
- Session 1: In this first 90-minute appointment, I gather information on what brings the two of you here and what your hopes & goals are for your relationship. Together, you will provide the history of your relationship and how it has unfolded over time. You may be asked to complete questionnaires that you will bring back at your next session.
- Session 2: I meet individually for 45-minutes with each partner for the second appointment. These can be scheduled back-to-back on the same day or two separate times during the following week. This allows me to obtain information about each individual partner's background.
- Sessions 3+: You and your partner return together and we discuss the strengths, along with areas that need improvement based on the information obtained thus far. The number of sessions going forward is determined by each couple's goals and commitment towards a stronger, happier relationship.
"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." - Ralph Waldo Emerson