Marriage and Couples Counselling:

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Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy:

http://www.holdmetight.net Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples in a self help version.

A strong influence in my work with couples is Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy developed by Susan Johnson and Les Greenburg.  The goal in this approach is to identify and change negative interactional cycles and foster a more secure, loving bond.  The therapist helps expand each person’s responses to the other, and helps shift how partner’s are interacting with each other.  From that shifted perspective, partners learn to listen “behind” each other words for the feelings that lie beneath, which opens the door to responses that don’t perpetuate negative cycles.  From that shifted place, couples find they are better able to manage conflict, collaborate, problem solve and compromise.  

The Gottman Method:

Another inspiration to my work with couples is the Gottman Method. This approach is similar in it’s goal of fostering a more secure and loving bond.  It’s methods are based on extensive research into what makes relationships succeed or fail.  It provides a “nuts-and-bolts” approach to improving clients’ relationships.  This method is designed to help teach specific tools to deepen friendship and intimacy in a relationship. It helps couples learn to more productively manage conflicts, manage “resolvable problems” and dialogue about “gridlock” or perpetual issues.  Couples learn to enhance their relationship’s strengths gently navigate through its vulnerabilities.

All couples have conflicts, but what does it mean when you can't come to a compromise? Dr. Gottman sees possibilities within the seeming dead-end of gridlock. To learn more visit us at www.gottman.com
In May of 2000, Dr. John Gottman was in New York to meet with publishers about his upcoming book "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work," which would go on to become a New York Times best-seller.

Deepening Friendship and Resolving Gridlock:

The Gottman method is designed to help teach specific tools to deepen friendship and intimacy in your relationship. To help you productively manage conflicts, you will be given methods to manage “resolvable problems” and dialogue about “gridlock” or perpetual issues.  We will also work together to help you appreciate your relationship’s strengths and to gently navigate through its vulnerabilities.

 

 

 

Contact Sandy:

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I can be reached by email at sandymaclean@gmail.com or phone at 250-509-1092.  I offer a free 20-minute initial meeting to help you get a sense of the process and my fit for you.

“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone, it has to be made, like bread; remade all the time, made new.”
— Ursula K. Le Guin