COUPLES THERAPY
Couples therapy helps couples consciously explore, understand, and improve their relationships. The therapy process explores each partner’s individual relationship patterns and experiences, as well as the processes and dynamics that manifest in the relationships. This opens up the opportunity to better understand themselves and their partners, and to develop deeper intimacy between the partners. During the therapy, it is recognized how communication between partners affects the relationship and how to move toward communication that strengthens and stabilizes the relationship. For example, by improving the way disagreements are resolved, by promoting timely sharing.
There are several approaches to couples therapy. At the Vivendi Health Center, couples therapy is led by clinical psychologist and CBT therapist Kristine Dudina, who has studied in depth and works with emotionally focused couples therapy methods; she also uses other approaches in her work, such as schema therapies and Gottman therapy methods.
Who is couples therapy suitable for?
Couples therapy can be helpful for any couple who wants to consciously build their relationship, improve their sense of intimacy, or resolve some short-term or long-term difficulties. You don’t have to wait until the relationship has become unbearable or there is a lot of negative emotion and alienation.
Already early in a relationship, therapy can help you establish healthy communication habits and avoid experiences that undermine trust and alienate you. A deeper understanding of each partner’s attachment style, needs, and vulnerabilities can help you avoid hurting each other.
Benefits you can expect from couples therapy
- Emotionally closer relationships and higher satisfaction with relationships overall
During couples therapy, partners not only develop understanding at the mental level, but also learn to empathetically and gently tune in to each other’s emotional needs. Conflicts and resentments cause people to close off, take a defensive position, and alienate each other. The therapist helps to gradually build safe and supportive mutual communication so that partners feel safe to open up, be vulnerable, and restore a sense of intimacy.
- More successful communication in everyday life
During the therapy, partners’ skills to clearly and respectfully express their thoughts and emotions improve, as well as to give space to their partner, and to listen in a way that makes the partner feel heard.
- Resolves conflicts and disagreements better
Disagreements are inevitable in any relationship. Aggressive conflicts can have a destructive effect on the quality of the relationship, but conflict provides an opportunity to get to know each other better and develop the relationship. Therapy can help develop solution-oriented, respectful communication during disagreements in order to skillfully navigate difficult conversations.
- Strengthens or restores mutual trust
One of the founders of couples therapy, John Gottman, has said: “Betrayal is the secret that lies at the core of every failing relationship – even if the couple is unaware of it.”
Infidelity is just one way how a lack of trust manifests or is destroying it. Most often, trust is undermined by small, everyday experiences: “Can I trust you to buy the milk? Will you listen to my feelings and needs? Will you respect my time and investment in the relationship? Can you accept me? Will you be there for me through difficult times?” When many negative experiences accumulate, trust in a partner is lost and alienation occurs.
Every relationship is unique, and the needs that couples bring to therapy vary. In the first sessions, the therapist explores the dynamics of the relationship with the couple and then agrees on the goals of therapy. The assessment also includes an individual meeting with each partner. During the individual session, each partner’s relationship patterns throughout their lives, including in the context of childhood experiences, are explored in more depth, individual challenges are identified, and needs are more clearly formulated.