Couples Therapy

“Dear friend, how can I be more loving to you? How can I be more kind?” – Hafiz

“The first labor of love is to listen.” – Paul Tillich

Being seen, heard and understood is essential for the development of our authentic selves. If we are immersed in an environment that consistently fails to acknowledge us for who we are, we build walls to protect ourselves from the blows of this non-empathic environment. Alternatively, in an environment that is consistently safe, supportive and empathic, most of us begin to move toward a more authentic way of being in the world. We blossom, opening to our true selves.

In my work of supporting clients with their relationships, I provide a supportive and empathic environment so clients can feel safe enough to explore the challenges in their relationships and their blocks to intimacy. Out of this growing awareness, clients can more consciously choose how they would like to respond to difficulties in their relationships, instead of reacting reflexively. With increased awareness comes greater choice, and greater choice brings greater freedom and fulfillment.

In addition, depending on the individual client and the kind of support they request, I draw from a variety of interventions and effective communication tools to support clients with their relationships, such as:

• Conflict Resolution
• Non-Violent Communication
• Collaborative Problem Solving
• Internal Family Systems
• Mindfulness Techniques
• Creative Expression & Exploration
• Role Play
• Embodied Inquiry
• Visualization
• Suggested Readings

Watch this video by Jaclyn Long on effective tools for couples communication:

“Partner Communication Tools” – Jaclyn Long