Blog
Balancing the Pursuer – Withdrawer Dynamic in Relationships
Working Together to Understand Different Coping Mechanisms In the intricate tapestry of human relationships, patterns like the Pursuer-Withdrawer dynamic often shape the bond between partners. This dynamic involves one partner seeking closeness (the pursuer) while the...
Navigating Relationship Challenges with Emotionally Focused Therapy
Navigating Relationship Challenges with Dr. Sue Johnson's Emotionally Focused Therapy The Approach I Use in My Work Dr. Sue Johnson's development of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) has revolutionized our understanding of relationship dynamics, mainly through her...
Relationships and Bipolar Disorder
Getting Support with Relationship Therapy Bipolar disorder is a condition impacting an individual's mood. While manageable, it influences one's thoughts, feelings, and conduct within romantic relationships. Individuals with bipolar disorder can undergo intense mood...
Embracing Change: Supporting Your Partner’s Transgender Journey
Life is a journey of self-discovery and growth, and sometimes, our paths lead us to unexpected crossroads. One such crossroad may emerge when your partner comes out as transgender. This revelation can be a significant turning point in both your lives, provoking a...
A Guide to Coping During The Holidays
Navigating Tension and Stress in Your Relationship During The Holidays: A Guide to Coping The holiday season is often depicted as a time of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, the reality can differ for many, primarily...
Why Should I Forgive?
An ancient saying says, "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face." This is a warning to people not to act out in anger or resentment because you only end up harming yourself. Over time, these resentments can build until the individual develops feelings of...
Am I Sad or Depressed?
Every one of us will experience sadness in our lifetime. It is entirely normal and natural. But some people feel something more profound and overwhelming than sadness. They may feel this way despite nothing difficult happening. So how can we tell the difference...
Effect of Child Abuse on Adult Experiences
Each year in this country, thousands of children are the victims of child abuse by parents, guardians, and other adults. Whether this abuse is physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional, it can leave scars on their heart and psyche for many years. Here are just some of...
How To Know You Are Dealing With A Narcissist
Often we think we know what narcissism looks like. After all, aren't most politicians and Hollywood A-listers narcissists projecting their massive egos onto the world? While that may be true, narcissists come in all shapes and sizes. They walk among us, some of them...
Romantic Love versus Lasting Connection and Bonding
Dr. Sue Johnson, the founder of Emotionally Focused Therapy (the approach I use), wrote in her book Hold Me Tight, “Love has an immense ability to help heal the devastating wounds that life sometimes deals us. Love also enhances our sense of connection to the larger...
Couples Counselling
Couples Counselling: How to Regulate During Difficult Conversations During difficult conversations, it's common for us to become triggered by something our partner has said. We can feel calm one moment, but the next, we are thrown into "fight or flight" mode, our...
Understanding the Impact of Emotional Abuse: A Guide to Healing
Unveiling the Hidden Scars of Emotional Abuse Emotional abuse isn't always as conspicuous as physical abuse, yet its repercussions can be equally devastating. Tactics such as gaslighting, shaming, and manipulation can leave individuals feeling bewildered, powerless,...
Relationship Therapy and Neurodivergence
Many neurodivergent clients I work with have shared with me that the idea of dating too them is terrifying. Often there are feelings of nervousness about holding their own in a conversation with someone they've just met, and they can find small talk very stressful. In...
Finding Yourself in Relationship
When we first fall in love with that special someone, we want to spend all our time together. We feel better when we are with our significant other. This is the infatuation stage, and admittedly, it feels terrific. But enduring relationships move past this stage and...
How Do We Keep The Spark Alive?
When you build a fire, whether to warm your home or add ambience on a cold winter night, it is vital to tend the fire to keep it going. Relationships are the same. Beginning with that initial spark, we need to tend to it to keep the heat. Many couples are ready to...