Couples Counselling

I provide couples counselling in the Algarve for adults (ages 18+) experiencing a variety of challenges in their partnership/marriage, including communication and connection issues (C&C), feelings of isolation, trauma, conflicts and a lack of intimacy and/or trust.

In addition I offer counseling to help with cultural transitions for expats/immigrants settling into a new life or undergoing retirement life transitions, career transitions, children leaving the family home or marital divorce. All these transitions can impact relationship happiness.

I am trained in and utilize elements of evidence-based CBT (Cognitive behavioral Therapy), Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), but in my general approach I mostly follow Gottman’s evidence based model for couples therapy (GMCT).

I come from a place of compassion, I am solution-oriented and productive, down-to earth, engaging and sincere, active and I seek honest collaboration.

Although I am trained, I do not -currently - offer family counselling, individual therapy (children or adults) or professional executive coaching.

What I offer

The counselling proces

Counselling is a collaborative effort that requires active participation from both of you.

The approach will be in the here-and-now, structured and depending on your needs may involve role play, exercises, practicing tools, some homework, but also sometimes discussing uncomfortable topics. The focus is on improving communication, conflict resolution and emotional connection in your partnership/marriage.

Although there are no guarantees about the outcome of therapy, research has shown Gottman’s counseling/couples therapy has positive effects on improving marital adjustment and couple's intimacy.

Sessions will be weekly. The first sessions will involve an evidence-based assessment of the strengths and challenges in your marriage/partnership. This assessment typically lasts 3 sessions and also involves filling in questionnaires and separate interviews with both partners.

By the end, we will discuss if I am the right counsellor for you and I will offer a treatment plan with goals to work on based on your wishes and the above assessment. This is similar to going to a medical specialist: first he/she does some tests and depending on the results a treatment plan is suggested.

Marathon couples Counselling

Marathon relationship counselling is an alternative to traditional weekly sessions and offers in 3 consecutive days a focused and condensed approach to marital problems. This form of intensive relationship counselling will provide you with the time to:

• Address a crisis in your relationship where once a week sessions will be insufficient.

• Address in depth specific issues and discuss challenges and struggles.

• Process past relationship injuries and work towards healing those injuries.

• Gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your partner and your relationship.

• Develop and practice new relationship and communication skills.

• Get your relationship back on track and moving towards your relationship goals quickly.

Marathon couples counselling is an increasingly popular and successful way for partners experiencing distress to stabilize their relationship and begin to rebuild a better and more satisfying relationship together.

Marathon couples counselling may be particularly useful for partners/couples who find scheduling regular weekly sessions challenging, don’t live in the vicinity of their counsellor, or who feel they need to reduce distress and stabilize their relationship quickly.

Marathon couples counselling typically consists of 18 hours over three consecutive days (variations can be discussed).

If you are unsure as to whether to follow a more traditional or marathon counselling format, we can discuss which format might be the best fit for you both.

For more detailed information about marathon couples counselling, please contact me directly.

Have any questions?

Feel free to contact me.