Couples Therapy in Georgetown On
When a couple seeks out counselling, it means they have lost the ability to communicate in a way that leads to solutions to their problems. Couples therapists have been trained in understanding the dynamics of a relationship, are able to help couples begin to hear each other again, and can help each partner become less defensive of their position.
Too many relationships are unintentionally hurt by well-meaning therapists who do not have training in couples counselling. All our couples therapists and interns have received specialized training in Emotionally Focused Therapy, the gold standard approach for working with couples.
Your relationship is a priceless bond that deserves nothing less than the very best, and that's exactly what we aim to deliver.
Join us on this transformative journey, where we will stand by your side through thick and thin.
What's Troubling your Relationship?
Few things in life are as painful as a dysfunctional or toxic relationship.
It’s sad to see how long many couples suffer in these situations believing that there’s no help, or that they’ve tried everything. Whether there’s been one damaging event in your relationship, such as an affair, managing in your newly blended family, or your difficulties have grown over time, Couples Therapy Centre can help.
Whilst it may feel overwhelming, making a choice to seek couples counselling is an important step towards positive change in a relationship.
What is the Couples Therapy & Marriage Counselling Process?
Your services with Couples Therapy Centre will begin with a thorough assessment of your couple relationship.
A joint session is followed by individual interviews with each partner whereby each partner provides information about themselves and their relationship. We then resume joint sessions for the remainder of our work together, provided couples therapy is safe and appropriate.
The frequency of sessions is preferably weekly or biweekly to start, but we can be flexible to accommodate your schedule.
Emotionally Focused Therapy research indicates that the average number of counselling sessions to be about 12-20.
However, every relationship is unique and for some couples, only a few sessions might be needed. Whilst for others, a longer process is required.
We aim to help you gain a better understanding of yourself and your partner so your relationship can weather the ups and downs.
Our counsellors are skilled at guiding sessions and taking an active role in the process. We've helped couples just like you develop the skills to overcome your difficulties. We will help you find the root causes of your relationship issues, uncover and express painful emotions, and provide support and guidance to help resolve them.
When is the Right Time to Go to Couples Therapy?
Of course, in an ideal world, you would go to a couples therapy when you’re not in a real crisis. Some couples do attend couples therapy before they’ve encountered a catastrophic event. It can strengthen the relationship and be used as a preventative tool so that when issues do come up, you and your partner have the skills you need to tackle it together. This is helpful when going through a specific stressor, such as transitioning to life with a new baby, or when you’ve decided to blend families.
Most couples, however, are looking for a therapist in a hurry. Problems in their relationship have reached a point where there is a code red emergency. Other attempts at resolving their distress are not working, and couples are desperate for help. Many of the couples therapists at Couples Therapy Centre have immediate availability and are there to strengthen some piece of your relationship, or help you navigate the tough times.
What Kind of Results Can I Expect?
Sometimes, even the best and most experienced therapists can’t save a relationship. At times, one or both partners are not even sure they want to stay in the relationship. If there’s ambivalence about the relationship, the couples therapist will ask that both partners commit to the work of improving the relationship for a period of time. This means 100% committing to trying to make the relationship work and putting on hold any research on divorce/lawyers etc. At the very least, the process of couples therapy will still provide you with learning and clarity about how you want to move forward.
When the couple has been distant and their polarized positions have been entrenched for years (sometimes decades), the progress in couples therapy may be very slow. Many of our couples share that they start to notice small shifts in behaviour, thoughts or feelings (your own or your partners’) within the first 4 sessions. It’s important to notice these changes, no matter how small. Even the smallest changes indicate progress.
Some of our couples find they meet their goals with 6-8 sessions. Mostly, the research on Emotionally Focused Therapy (the approach we use at Couples Therapy Centre) shows that most couples find that 12-20 sessions is sufficient to help them feel securely connected.
Our goal as your couples therapist, is not to solve your problems for you. But to give you the skills and strategies to solve your own relationship problems going forward.
What if my Partner Does Not Want to Attend Couples Therapy?
It’s not unusual for one partner to be more invested in couples therapy than the other. Chances are, since you are reading this, you are the one that is highly invested. Your goal is to gently encourage your partner to attend one session. In this session, they will have an opportunity to have their perspective heard. Let them know that a couples therapist is not going to be blaming or judging. Instead, make it clear to your partner that they will be able to say what’s on their mind and express their concerns to the therapist. The couples therapist values both perspectives.
Once you get your partner in the door, the couples therapist will take over. The therapist is trained to work with less than enthusiastic partners.
What do I Look for in a Couples Therapist?
This is a tough one to answer as what may be right for one person is not right for another. The number one most important part of therapy is finding a therapist you connect with. You may have to meet a couple of different therapists to find one that fits just right for you and your partner.
Talk to your partner about it and determine what qualities are important to you both before you begin your search. Ask yourselves:
Is there a certain vibe you want (laid back versus clinical etc).
Do you have a preference for age or gender?
Are you looking for someone that offers in person appointments?
Would you prefer someone from a specific cultural background?
We always recommend you meet with a therapist or two for free consultations prior to making the decision to hire them as your couples therapist. At Couples Therapy Centre, we offer free 20 min consultations, to make your search for the right therapist a little easier.
Is there Anything I Need to do to Prepare for the First Session?
Yes, if you have insurance coverage, you will need to get details of your insurance prior to the first session. You and your partner will also receive an intake/consent form (sent to you online) to be completed prior to the first session.
How can a Couples Therapist in Georgetown Help?
At the start of our work together, we ask each partner questions about their experience of the relationship. We listen with our hearts and our heads, offering validation in a space that is non-judgmental and empathic. We try to understand where each partner is coming from, where their hurts originate, how they try to meet unfulfilled needs, and how they cope with their pain. Each partner can start to understand the unintended effects of their behaviour on the other and take responsibility for the pain they may have caused.
Over the course of several couples therapy sessions, this step by step process leads to a reduction in conflict (de-escalation). Couples we work with feel and express empathy for themselves and one another. They gain trust, emotional safety, and feel a secure bond in their relationship.
When partners feel loved, they feel that they belong and are valued to the other person. They are secure in the knowledge that their partner will be there for them when they need them. This security creates a physical and emotional attachment to another one.
