Great Couples Counselling in Whitchurch Stouffville, ON. Therapy to heal relationships.

In couples counseling, I create empathetic environment for both partners. I encourage open communication, helping each individual express their feelings and perspectives without judgment. By exploring the dynamics of their relationship, we identify patterns that contribute to misunderstandings or conflict. My background as an Asian-Canadian woman allows me to approach cultural differences sensitively, recognizing how these influences shape each partner's values and beliefs. Using a blend of therapeutic approaches, including Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman approach, and Narrative Therapy, I facilitate collaboration and growth, guiding

My approach is to help people recognize that relationships are two-sided and understand how each individual contributes to the couple’s dynamic. With that understanding, we work toward reaching a win-win situation, aiming to restore the satisfaction of the relationship. Together, we create a safe space for you to grow past the areas of “stuckness” -- that is, the old patterns that are learned when we are young and are brought to our current relationships. This is true for all of us. Therapy enables us to form new and healthy attachment patterns that are nourishing and nurturing, providing opportunities for new growth and satisfaction.

When a couple is in trouble, the act of seeking out a counsellor has to be motivated by the desire to stay together through hard work. Therapy is not for those who need it but for those who want it. This is even more true when it comes to working with couples. The journey is one of finding once more what brought them together in the first place. We work with forgiveness and building trust. We find ways for the couple to once again feel a sense of warmth and compassion as we break down the walls of resentment. We look at what is triggering the couple to fight. We go through the anatomy of a common and repetitive fight. i also teach the couple some body centered techniques.

I believe that marriage/relationship is not about finding the right person, but rather about becoming the right person. When you focus on your own behaviors and the way you treat the person you love, it will not be long before things begin to change. None of us have the power or ability to change another human being. We cannot make someone do what we want them to do. But, we can make ourselves do what we need to do in order to become the kind of person who is worthy of being in a good, healthy relationship. I will help you be a better person, more worthy of being in a healthy relationship. Focus on what you can do to make things better without any agenda toward the other person and watch what ....

Relationships can be both satisfying, and frustrating. Although we can get along with some people some of the time, in close relationships we can sometimes get stuck, over-reactive, or even too distant. In couple counselling we can explore what's not working in your relationship, what your individual and 'couple' ideals and dreams are, and then strategize and work together on getting your relationship to a better place.

Your marriage is in crisis, or you feel "stuck". Perhaps you are dealing with one of many common relationship issues, Infidelity, Frequent bickering and fighting, Inability to stop destructive patterns of behavior, Feeling taken for granted, Unsupported or misunderstood, No longer enjoying time together, Damaged trust or jealousy, Loss of intimacy, Challenges with parenting, Difficulties with the stress of work and family. Learning new communication skills which replace the old repetitive patterns, using Imago and Emotionally Focused Therapy are two strong amongst various approaches to reignite and/or deepen the connection that restores trust, safety and security, and harmony.

Healthy relationships take commitment & work. I help couples increase emotional intimacy & connection. I help them stop unhelpful ways of interacting, achieve resolution to their unresolved conflicts, & take responsibility for their negative contributions to patterns. Couple relationships require re-committing ourselves to each other repeatedly throughout the length of our relationship. I will help you to learn to "turn towards" one another. I will also help you to eliminate the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a phrase coined by couple researches John and Julie Gottman. Lastly, all couple relationships include pursuer-distancer patterns. I will help you identify these and work to stop them.

If you are finding yourselves stuck in the same 'merry-go-round' (although not so merry!) of poor communication and accusation/defensiveness, winners and losers, your marriage probably feels like you're going nowhere fast! You think you've married the wrong person and feel that you've tried everything in your 'tool-bag' to do. If you don't have 'win-win', what you essentially have is 'lose-lose'.. I will advocate for your marriage...I will be your cheerleader and your coach combined, showing you how to get out of this destructive cycle and move forward to something much more satisfying. I will help you rebuild when hurts have been deep. Don't delay on this...sooner is better!

Do you or your partner suffer from social anxiety and it's affecting your relationship? Social anxiety is a fear of negative judgment from others and it can lead to reduced levels of intimacy, suppressed emotions, feelings of isolation and loneliness and lack of communication. If one or both of you feels anxious socially, your relationship may be suffering too. Contact me for ways in which you can move past social anxiety to a fuller, intimate, richer, relaxed more authentic relationship.

Taking time with your loved one can be a beautiful and fulfilling experience. However, it can feel challenging when you and your partner are stuck in previous patterns of behaviour, communication, and interaction. As a couple therapist, I will support you in better understanding yourself, your loved one, and your relationship to navigate challenges (e.g., communication, attachment, trust, etc.). I seek to enable you and your partner to work as a team in navigating whatever struggles come your way and developing your own unique toolkit. Speak with me today for a free consultation to begin your journey.

Your partner can be the greatest source of strength in your life, but at times can also feel like your greatest enemy. I believe that the people closest to us often bear both the best and worst sides of us. Together, we will explore your relationship and navigate disagreement, conflict, and trust to find a path for the relationship to offer collaboration, peace, and companionship.

A satisfying relationship is one of life's greatest pleasures. The good news is we have the research available to know the predictors of relationship success and demise. Let me work with you to gain insight into the strengths in your relationship and provide you with the skills to overcome the challenges to create the relationship experience you each desire.

When we're feeling disconnected, unhappy or lonely in our relationships, it can take a toll on our wellbeing & mental health. Couples therapy gives folks hope that there relationship can be more connected, calm & loving. In sessions, we'll focus on the root issues in the relationship, and co-create a plan to heal. We prioritize working on effective communication and conflict management, healing past relationship hurts and building intimacy. Monogamous & polyamorous couples of all genders, sexual orientations and cultural backgrounds are welcome in our virtual office! If you want to start improving your relationship, book a consultation or session now! www.kaleidoscopecounsellingco.com

All relationships hit rough patches from time to time. However couples who have the skills to identify and talk in a mature and calm manner are able to manage these rough patches before they become mighty marriage mountains to scale. When couples struggle to communicate, be active and present participants in their relationship, take responsibility for their part of the problem and the solution we end up with a breakdown of the relationship. It is possible to learn the skills that will improve your relationship. Working on improving communication skills, conflict resolutions and negotiating skills, stress and self management skills and much more will help grow your relationship.

I’ve been helping people lead more intentional lives for over 20 years. Couples therapy supports you in reaching a fresh connection with your partner. You have the ability to have a meaningful relationship. I can help you learn the skills to communicate in a way that will get your needs met. I’m trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, developmental models,and anxiety and depression management. I will support you in creating a set of tools to help you discover your objective. Most importantly, you're a distinctive couple, with distinctive needs. My goal is to work with you as a unique couple, and focus on YOUR goals.

Shyamala has a Masters in Counselling and a Doctorate specifically in Marriage and Family Therapy. As a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist, her expertise is in working with couple relationships. She practices Emotionally Focussed Therapy for couples; one of the most researched and effective ways to treat couple distress. Her goal is to help couples create secure and meaningful connections so that they no longer need the assistance of a couples therapist and are able to work through life's challenges on their own.

Couples counselling in my sessions includes communication styles and changes, understanding each person's perspective, and more awareness of oneself in the relationship. Healthy attitudes and behaviours are explored together. Sometimes individual therapy is suggested alongside couples therapy if there are more severe issues in the relationship. Couples may include pre-marital, married, partners, separated, or even good friends who want relationship growth.

Are you and your partner struggling with communication, trust, or expectations in your relationship? Whether you are working through a specific conflict, preparing for a big relationship change, or want to improve your communication as a couple, I offer a practical and non-judgemental therapeutic space to help you get to where you both want to be in a timeframe that works for you.

Healthy relationships can be one of the most enjoyable and important experiences a person can have. Yet relationships are not easy—they are complex and can change over time. It’s not uncommon for couples to fall into patterns and engage in behaviours that create distress for both partners. I believe that couples counselling is about helping you and your partner better understand each other by being open, vulnerable, and honest about your own thoughts and feelings. My approach is about working together to create space, find the language, and develop ways to restore, grow, and thrive as a partnership.

There are many reasons why couples seek therapy. You may be experiencing communication problems that keep coming, feeling constantly criticized, not feeling heard, feeling emotionally distant from your partner, fighting over the same issues, feelings of anger and jealousy, feeling controlled by your partner, and differences in parenting styles. Couples therapy can help you strengthen your bond by learning healthy ways to communicate your needs, identify stuck patterns and learn new ways to be with each other. Often a few sessions is all that is needed for a “reset”.

I use 9 steps of Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help couples identify their negative interaction cycle and each partner's role in that cycle. Steps 1-4 entails empowering the couples to access unacknowledged emotions underlying the interactional positions and to reframe the challenges in terms of underlying feelings and attachment needs. Steps 5-7 entails supporting and mediating couples to change interactional positions and creating new bonding experiences. Steps 8-9 entails encouraging the couples to integrate new solutions to old relational problems.

Intimate relationships are like a dance – they can be quite joyful and energizing but when facing obstacles, partners need to find the steps and rhythm to move more freely. Couple therapy can provide a safe space in which you and your partner can gain a deeper understanding of one another and what contributes to difficulties within the dance of your relationship. Should you decide to attend sessions, I will work with you to facilitate honest conversations, help you to better understand what you may need from one another, and support you in finding a way to step toward more acceptance, intimacy, and connection. Contact me or book a free consultation if you wish to learn more.

If your relationship is struggling, I can help you both to view it in a different way, and to learn new skills to re-connect and recover the intimacy that can sometimes go missing. Most people will experience emotional problems at some point in their life, and all relationships can have conflict creep in and cause disconnection and distance. Despite theses difficulties, I can help you bring vitality back into your life, and build a deeper connection between you and your partner.

Relationship with "other" (meaning really anything outside of ourselves) is probably the most important aspect of living. The better this relationship is, the more fulfilling a life can become. More specifically, the relationship with a human partner is probably the most important of all relationships. Is it true to you that your heartfelt relationship with your partner is truly an integral "need" in your life? Some say that we all need connection, acceptance, and love in order to be whole human beings. Are those three essentials present in your relationship? Do you want to find ways to bring them more fully into your life?

What concerns can we hope to address? ​ - Communication - Conflict - Infidelity - Building trust - Enhancing emotional intimacy - Opening up - Sexual issues We will utilize a combination of therapeutic modalities, interventions and approaches to help tailor the treatment to your specific needs, including: ​ - Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) - Gottman Method - Sex Therapy - Assess for strengths and vulnerabilities of your relationship - Assign homework activities (applying what you've learned outside of your sessions with structured exercises for reducing conflict, improving communication, and enhancing sexual intimacy) - Recommend individual therapy for one or both partners