Couples Therapy Near Me
It’s Us Against The Problem Not Us Against Each Other
Have you and your partner felt like you needed a special place to nurture your relationship?
Are you at the point where you feel like you need a saving grace to make your relationship work?
Are you at the point where you can't stand your partner and could benefit from a mediator?
Then couples counselling could be for you! Your mental health matters.
First, let's debunk some common couples counselling misconceptions.
Someone will fix your partner.
The therapeutic space is safe, respectful, and nonjudgemental. As adults, we also require consent and engagement from both individuals.
Couples therapy is only for marriage.
Therapists can help any couple in any type of relationship. We are open and adaptable!
There is no point, the relationship is done.
If you have both decided to end the relationship, therapists can help you to heal and redefine your lives after the relationship- whether that is together or not.
Therapy will fix everything.
Therapy takes work. Oftentimes, we get out of it what we put in. Sometimes, things may not work out in the way that you want but your therapist can be by your side along the road of rediscovery.
What is couples counselling?
Couples counselling is an adapted approach to the techniques and interventions used in individual counselling. Rather than focusing on individual goals, the couple explores, creates, and aims to reach their collective goals for the relationship.
What are the benefits of couples counselling?
Improve your communication skills
Rebuild or strengthen trust
Bring the “spark” back into the relationship
Create space to work on your individuality while being in a relationship
Identify your needs and your wants in a relationship
Identify patterns and cycles that don’t work and may be linked to past relationships or your upbringing
Have a space where you are held accountable each session to check-in on your relationship and how your partner is feeling
Become more committed to personal growth
Learn to be an active listener
Become more open-minded
What can I expect in couples counselling?
The first few sessions are used to gain some information, identify feelings, and hear about areas that the couple thinks need work. Later sessions can include exploring the past, teaching communication and coping skills, processing changes, and preparing for the future. Couples therapy can be more solution-focused to help behavioural changes be made so that each individual feels more comfortable, happy, and aligned in the relationship. Just as with individual counselling, the goals, pacing, and flow of the sessions are client-centred and specific to each couple. All goals are created in a collaborative setting and a plan is created together, offering opportunities for feedback within and after each session. Your therapist may also recommend individual counselling on the side to supplement the couples' counselling. This can also allow a space for individual and shared goals to be worked only. You may consider accessing a women’s or men’s counsellor at Rebound Total Health.
What are some strategies that your therapist may use in session?
Your therapist may educate you on mental illness, unhealthy coping strategies, abusive types of behaviour and anything else relating to your psychological well-being that is relevant to you as a couple. It has been found that knowledge of this can increase a couple’s ability to access internal and external resources, leading to an overall better well-being.
Mindfulness Exercises
Mindfulness is the act of observing and bringing attention to, without judgment. Mindful exercises may look like mindful breathing exercises or meditation to bring awareness into sensations around the body. Gaining awareness may identify areas that are holding stress and can centre individuals in the moment. Mindful practices have been found to help individuals in managing stress or wandering thoughts. Couples can be coached to reach this resource in their toolkit when overwhelmed.
Tracking Patterns
Couples may have cognitive-behavioural-therapy (CBT) worksheets introduced in sessions to bring awareness into each individual’s experience of various situations. CBT draws on the connection between a situation and the thoughts and feelings that come up. Cognitive strategies such as reframing may be introduced to help the couple adjust thought patterns that have not been working.
Practicing Effective Communication Through Acting in Session
A therapist may ask the couple to recreate an argument in session before and after adjustments to make the argument respectful and more productive. This process involves reflecting on what works, what does not, and why. It also coaches each individual to make behavioural modifications that benefit themselves and their partner.
