For many people the relationship with their partner is the key to feeling good. But there can be patterns of tension or conflict that keep occurring which cause upset. It might be that over time the partners drift apart and don’t know how to get back to an alive relationship. One or both partner may wonder if they even want to be together anymore. There may be hurts and injuries that have never been completely resolved and remain under the radar. Anger, resentment and jealousy may lead to frequent criticism and blaming which undermine the good relationship.

If you would like some help to move out of these patterns to find more trust, connection and openness with your partner – security of relationship, sessions with a therapist can help. You can come and have an introductory/initial appointment with me to see how talking with me feels for you both. After this if you wish to continue we can agree a weekly appointment day/time.

My role as a therapist is not to side with either partner but to facilitate you both see and work through the negative cycle of your relationship and from there into more openness and connection.

Approach to Couple Therapy

The approach to working with couples I use is rooted in Attachment Theory and is called Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFTC). It is collaborative in style, respectful and non-pathologizing (ie. not diagnosing problems or seeing people as types).

To learn more about this approach, see the book Hold Me Tight by Dr Sue Johnson or Wired for Love (2024) by Stan Tatkin which I find to be an engaging read.

The structure of the therapy is as follows:

• Initial appointment together
• Second session together
• Individual appointment
• Individual appointment
• Sessions together continue, a minimum of 12 weekly sessions in total

The therapy may be short term (15-20 weeks) for moderate distress or longer and open ended where there is trauma or attachment injuries in the couple relationship.

The training for practising ETFC is in three parts. I have completed all three parts: Internship (Nov ’23), Core Skills 1 & 2 (Feb ’24) and Core Skills 3 & 4 (May ’24).

I record sessions (either audio/video) for supervision and training purposes and will ask you to sign a consent form if you agree to this.

I see couples in person at The Minster Centre in Queens Park NW6 or at West Hampstead Therapy Rooms, Iverson Road, West Hampstead NW6 for 50mins sessions on a weekly basis or online.

The fee is £140 per 50 mins couple session, £90 for each of the two individual 50 mins sessions, paid 24hrs in advance. Please see the Therapy Agreement page for my cancellation terms.