Couples Therapy
You and your partner are arguing too often and it seems that there is no way out ...
An affair has broken your trust, and the relationship wounds will not heal ...
The person you fell in love with has become more like a flatmate and the physical closeness has almost disappeared ...
Your romantic partner has become distant and you are afraid of losing the relationship ...
Your desire for physical intimacy is very different from that of your partner’s – is there a solution for this?
Why come to couples therapy?
Couples therapy is a safe place to take time and look at your relationship:
What really works between the two of you, what doesn't, and how to change your relationship so that it would be good for both ...
Or how to end a dysfunctional relationship where neither of you want to be anymore …
The therapist's job is to create a safe space so that both of you can feel heard ...
The therapist helps you to get out of blaming and fear and learn to express yourselves in a safer way ...
Therapy can also help if the relationship has ended, but important things have not been talked about and agreements have not been made ...
It would be better to come to couples therapy sooner rather than later.
How long does couples therapy last?
Creating a conscious relationship takes time. This process can also be done in stages.
At the first session, we talk about the history of the relationship, important events, relationship dynamics and we also set goals for therapy. Over time, we move towards deeper topics during the sessions.
How to restore emotional and physical intimacy?
Do you both want this and what to do if your wishes are different?
Restoring closeness is definitely possible. It takes motivation, time, and cooperation.
In this process, you can also learn to communicate with each other in a caring and empathetic way.
Couples therapy is usually done together, but sometimes we also meet separately – so that attention can be on one partner and their self-development.
Katrin Hallik — Couples Therapy | Family Therapy | Personal Growth | Co-Dependency Counseling As a therapist, I help you understand yourself and your relationship patterns, so you can create more balance in your life, be gentler with yourself, and find joy in each day.
When two people become a couple, the emotional and behavioral patterns of both families also meet:
coping strategies, skills, habits and beliefs.
Every relationship has its developmental stages: the butterflies of falling in love are often followed by a power struggle, which in some cases lasts for years and leads to many fights, hopelessness, and distancing. You may feel that perhaps you have simply chosen the wrong partner and that there may be someone else more suitable for you. Yet, without becoming more aware of ourselves we often hit the same walls.
None of us wants to fight with our beloved one. Unfortunately, it happens because of unconscious patterns and misinterpretations of each other’s words and actions. By learning to recognize the patterns, we can reduce automatic reactivity and choose behavior that is more in line with our current values.
Couples therapy is a way to create a conscious and secure relationship.
Therapy enables you to understand yourself and your partner better, to notice vulnerability behind reactivity and to see a hurt child in the eyes of an angry partner – the dynamics of the relationship will gradually start to change.
In couples therapy, you can learn to really listen to your partner and express your feelings and needs with caring.
Instead of blaming, hiding, and suspicion, you can become close and mutually trusting.
Couples therapy highlights the main question of a couple's relationship:
“Are you there for me when I need you?”
Together we find answers to the questions:
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How can two complex worlds create a functioning common ground that is good for both, the couple and their children?
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Do we have time for each other or are we instead dedicated to work, hobbies, or children?
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What do we do when anxiety grows between us?
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What does equality mean in a couple's relationship?
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How can we be together, but also know how to be apart?
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What to do when a third party has appeared between us: addiction, affair, too much work?
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Once intimacy is lost, is it even possible to restore it?
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How do we learn to truly listen and care for each other?
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Does the way I treat myself affect the way I treat my partner?
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What are we not talking about and why?
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When is a relationship over? How do I end it?
Secure Connection (based on S. Johnson)
Openness
You pay attention to me and are emotionally open to what I have to say.
Responsiveness
You accept my needs and fears, and offer comfort and care.
Engaged Connection
You are emotionally present, attentive, and connected with me.