Couples Counselling
What Is Couples Counselling?
Relationships can be one of the most meaningful parts of our lives, but they can also bring significant stress and emotional pain when communication breaks down or trust is lost. Couples counselling provides a structured, supportive space where both partners can explore challenges, rebuild connection, and learn healthier ways to relate to one another.
How It Can Help
Couples counselling can support you in:
- Improving communication and conflict resolution
- Rebuilding trust after infidelity or betrayal
- Strengthening emotional and physical intimacy
- Navigating major life transitions as a team
- Addressing the impact of trauma, parenting, or extended family stress
Whether you’re facing a specific issue or simply feeling disconnected, therapy offers a chance to repair and deepen your relationship.
What to Expect
In your sessions, both partners will have space to speak, reflect, and be heard. You can expect:
- A respectful, neutral environment guided by your goals
- Evidence-based tools and strategies to improve your relationship
- Exercises to practise between sessions to build trust and communication
- A focus on understanding your relationship dynamics, not assigning blame
The process is collaborative and adapted to your pace.
Progress may look different for each couple, but every step is taken together.
Our Approach to Couples Counselling
At Maribel Ayala Psychotherapy and Consulting, we follow a four-session couples therapy model that integrates evidence-based approaches such as the Gottman Method—including its specialized approach to treating affairs and trauma—Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and EMDR therapy for couples, depending on each couple’s needs. The process begins with a joint session to explore the relationship’s history, identify current challenges, and set shared goals for therapy. This initial meeting allows the therapist to observe the couple’s dynamic, gain a broad understanding of concerns, and establish a collaborative tone for the work ahead.
The second and third sessions are individual meetings with each partner, creating a safe space to explore personal perspectives, experiences, and relationship goals. The fourth session brings both partners back together to review insights from the individual sessions, with the therapist offering feedback, highlighting strengths, and identifying areas for improvement. A customized treatment plan is then presented, which may draw on Gottman interventions, Solution Focused strategies, Narrative Therapy techniques, or EMDR protocols to address challenges, heal emotional wounds, and develop strategies tailored to the couple’s specific needs.
