I first heard the term “codependent” as a counseling student in graduate school. I remember working with one of my first clients, who was going through a painful breakup at the time. I can still see her sitting across from me in that cramped university office, tears...
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy
The Communication Iceberg: Diving Below the Waterline
Couples Therapy Session - Scenario Suzanne and Eddie* came to couples counseling seeking support to work through a painful event that occurred a year ago with the arrival of their first child. The event has caused a lot of fighting between them, and they have not been...
Do You Need a Couples Intensive?
If your friends ask, you say, “Everything is great...really...it’s good.” However, you know that isn’t entirely true, your relationship is “fine.” It’s not great and it’s definitely not how you’d like it to be, but it’s not on-the-brink of collapse. But you’re not...
Are You a Pursuer, Withdrawer, or a Bit of Both?
Let’s put on our science hats for a moment to understand attachment theory. John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth pioneered this concept in their work with mothers and children in the 1900s. Dr. Sue Johnson, Mario Mikulincer, and Philip Shaver, among many others, have...
Our Science-Based Approach
We have experienced the deep fulfillment and inevitable disappointments in our own marriage and know the importance of having a clear map to navigate the complex and challenging territory of committed relationships. We use two primary models of treatment which are...
What to Expect During Your First Couples Therapy Session
You did it. You scheduled your first couples therapy appointment. Now what? For many new clients, therapy may be daunting because it is an entirely new experience. Perhaps the only exposure you've had with therapy is from a TV show or heard a friend talking about...