Couples Counselling and Marriage Therapy
If you and your spouse or partner have been having conflict or disconnection in your relationship but are still committed to making it work, couples therapy may be the right thing for you to pursue. If you are in so much distress that you have been wondering if you should stay together or not, couples therapy can help as well. Whatever your issue is, if you would like to try to make things better, couples therapy can help.
I have been a marriage therapist for over 25 years and have helped numerous couples to mend their relationships and thrive together. At times, I have helped couples to separate amicably and collaborate on issues such as kids, pets, living arrangements and more.
It is always better to try and end things amicably, if that is where your relationship is headed.
Couples counselling and marriage therapy is a form of conjoint therapy designed to support couples experiencing distress in their relationship. Couples seek therapy for many different reasons and at various stages of life. What they often share is a sense that the relationship is no longer working as it once did, or that ongoing difficulties are affecting their emotional well-being and quality of life.
Research shows that prolonged marital distress can contribute to physical health concerns and intensify mental health difficulties such as anxiety and depression. Although each couple is unique in their history, personality, and circumstances, many couples who seek therapy find themselves caught in a repetitive negative cycle. This cycle may involve patterns of criticism, defensiveness, emotional withdrawal, or escalating conflict, leaving partners feeling hurt, angry, disconnected, or hopeless.
An Emotionally Focused Approach to Couples Therapy
My work with couples is grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an evidence-based model developed by Dr. Sue Johnson. EFT views relationship distress not as a failure of love, but as a disruption in emotional connection and security.
The goal of couples therapy is to help partners:
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Identify and understand the negative cycle that keeps them stuck
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Explore the underlying emotional needs, fears, and longings driving this cycle (such as fear of rejection, loss, or insecurity)
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Change interactional patterns in ways that foster greater safety, trust, and emotional responsiveness
As couples begin to recognize the cycle as the problem—not each other—they often experience greater empathy, emotional openness, and renewed closeness. Over time, this process can strengthen the emotional bond and restore a sense of comfort and security in the relationship.
Marriage counselling is a powerful and effective form of treatment for relationship distress. While it may not be the right fit for every couple, those who are willing to engage honestly and reflectively in the therapeutic process—both in and outside the therapy room—often find it to be deeply transformative.
If you are feeling disconnected, overwhelmed by conflict, or uncertain about the future of your relationship, couples counselling can help. I invite you to reach out to learn more or to schedule an initial consultation.
You do not have to wait until things feel unbearable to seek support. Couples counselling can help you understand what is happening in your relationship and begin moving toward greater closeness and clarity.