Couples Counselling
Healing relationships through connection
Most couples don’t come to therapy because they don’t care, they come because something keeps getting in the way of feeling close, safe, or understood.
My work with couples is grounded in a relational understanding of trauma. Many of the wounds we carry were shaped in relationships, and healing often happens there too. Couples therapy is a space to slow things down, understand what’s happening beneath the conflict, and rebuild connection in a way that feels safer and more sustainable.
You don’t need to be in crisis to come to couples counselling. And you don’t need to have all the answers — just a willingness to show up and be curious about what’s happening between you.
Couples counselling
Healing relationship wounds through connection
What couples counselling looks like with me
Couples therapy isn’t about deciding who’s right or wrong, and it’s not a place to keep score. It’s about understanding the patterns that keep pulling you apart — especially during moments of stress, disconnection, or conflict.
I work from a trauma-informed, attachment-based lens, integrating evidence-based couples therapy approaches, including Gottman Method principles. We focus on both emotional safety and practical skills, because insight without tools doesn’t last — and tools without understanding don’t go deep enough.
Together, we’ll work to:
- Slow down reactive conversations
- Understand conflict cycles rather than repeat them
- Increase emotional safety and trust
- Strengthen communication and repair after disconnection
This work is relational, not blame-based. The goal is connection — not perfection.
Why a relationship-trauma lens matters
Trauma doesn’t just live inside us — it shows up in how we connect, protect ourselves, and respond to closeness in relationships.
In couples therapy, this can look like:
- Arguments that escalate quickly or feel bigger than the moment
- Withdrawal, defensiveness, or emotional shutdown
- Difficulty trusting intentions, even when love is present
- Feeling alone together
Rather than asking, 'What’s wrong with us?' we explore what’s underneath the pattern and how safety and connection can be rebuilt.
Who is couples counselling for?
Couples counselling may be a good fit if:
- You feel stuck in the same arguments
- Communication breaks down quickly
- Trust or emotional safety has been impacted
- Life transitions have shifted your relationship
- One or both partners have trauma histories affecting connection
Couples therapy can support relationships at many stages — whether you’re navigating a rupture, feeling disconnected, or wanting to strengthen your foundation.
Practical details
- Session length : 50 minutes (Longer sessions are available when needed to make the most of the time you have together.)
- Format: Virtual (In-person sessions coming later in 2026.)
- Frequency: Most couples begin with weekly or bi-weekly sessions, depending on goals and availability. Frequency can shift over time as the relationship stabilizes.
- Investment: $200 per 50-minute session
- Location & licensure: Virtual, Ontario, Canada (New Liskeard / Temiskaming Shores location coming in 2026)
A gentle but honest note
Couples therapy works best when both partners are willing to look at their role in the relationship — not just point out the other person’s.
You don’t need to do this perfectly.
You do need to be willing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Less fighting. More understanding.
Trauma often shows up in relationships through heightened reactions, withdrawal, or difficulty feeling safe during conflict. Couples counselling can help partners understand these patterns and reduce blame.
In some cases, it can also be helpful to combine couples work with individual trauma therapy to support deeper healing alongside relational work.
EMDR is typically offered in individual therapy, especially when working directly with trauma memories or nervous system responses.
That said, couples counselling and EMDR therapy can complement each other well. Relationship work helps build safety and connection, while individual EMDR supports deeper trauma processing.
