Great Couples Counselling in Cranbrook, BC. Therapy to heal relationships.

Relationships are the most important thing we can do! While the relationship with ourselves is primary, a close second is having a loving healthy relationship with the person we hope to live the longest with: our partner. We do better in life if we have someone supportive behind us. I work with all kinds of couples and even when only one person in the relationship shows up. I am trained in both the Gottman and Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples.

We are proud to offer couples/relationship counselling as we all know that relationships can be both incredibly rewarding and tremendously difficult all at the same time. We believe that trust and safety create a solid foundation from which a relationship can grow. Through both the Gottman method and Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy we are confident that we can support the growth of healthy, secure attachments characterized by healthy attunement and respect.

Couples counselling often focuses on helping partners learn to manage conflicts in a respectful and caring manner, improve their ability to listen deeply and accurately to one another, and heal from emotional wounds. Building healthy intimate relationships involves understanding your partner’s aspirations and dreams, increasing commitment to the relationship, and learning to identify and overcome potential obstacles to open and effective communication with your partner. Other common focus areas include helping partners to recall and renew their friendship, increase their shared pleasure and enjoyment, and strengthening the emotional connection that initially attracted them to one another.

Healing and growing in our sexuality & eroticism can help us understand ourselves and our partners in ways we may have never been privileged to before. It opens us to the appreciation of the full depth and breadth of human erotic expression. I work with individuals and couples. My approach is informed by training as an Erotic Blueprint Coach, somatic attachment and conscious kink. All forms of love, relationship structures, and sexual expression (from the most sensual "vanilla" to the raunchiest kink) welcome.

Couples counselling offers a supportive space where partners can navigate challenges and enhance their relationship. Through guided sessions, couples can improve communication, address conflicts, and develop effective strategies for resolving issues. Therapists facilitate understanding, helping couples explore underlying dynamics and strengthen their emotional connection. By engaging in couples counselling, partners can foster healthier interactions, rebuild trust, and work collaboratively to create a more fulfilling and harmonious partnership.

In couples counselling, I would use a combination of an EFT approach as well as the Gottman Method which validated extensively couples, and has been shown to be two of the most successful approaches to help manage couples problems. Using these evidence-based techniques, we would explore the attachment style of each partner, determine the patterns of behaviour between the two individuals and the negative cycle that they are in. We would evaluate cultural factors if there are any, and of course focus on the core issues that the couple presents with. As a marriage counsellor, I would also use EFT and Gottman techniques to identify keys interactions and cycles in the relationship.

I work with couples using Gottman Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy and Attachment Therapy. I will help you identify your maladaptive patterns of behaviour and improve your communication skills. There is no shame in getting some coaching in how we connect with each other and how we can better meet each others needs. I use a strengths based approach to help you see the positives and remember why you fell in love.

The first step with my approach to couples therapy is for us to establish rapport as you inform me of the problem that has brought you to therapy. I use a Choice Theory approach which includes defining more closely what each of you want for yourselves as individuals and the relationship as a whole. From there, we get to work on rebuilding trust in the relationship by enhancing communication skills so each of you feel listened to, heard, and respected. Then we can build on trust to establish the changes needed to restore the happiness that brought you together in the first place.

Bettina specializes in couples/relationship counselling. She has completed Level 1 and 2 of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy as well as Dr. Gary Chapman's training with The Five Love Languages. Bettina believes having a better understanding of each other's differences as well as similarities, creates trust, acceptance, compassion, understanding, and passion in relationships. The more couples are able to communicate their feelings, needs and wants with each other, the more the relationship can thrive. Bettina uses Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, The Enneagram Personality Program, and communication tools to help couples feel heard, understood, and accepted in their relationships.