Couples Therapy
My work with couples draws from Object Relations theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), with attention to emotional connection and the deeper relational patterns that shape how partners experience one another.
OBJECT RELATIONS
Object relations is a way of understanding relationships that looks at how early experiences with caregivers shape how we relate to others as adults. Over time, we each develop internal expectations about closeness, trust, and emotional safety. These expectations often show up in intimate relationships, especially during moments of conflict or vulnerability.
In couples therapy, this approach helps partners recognize how past experiences may be influencing present reactions. Patterns such as fear of abandonment, emotional distance, or heightened sensitivity often have deeper roots. By bringing these patterns into awareness, couples can better understand one another, reduce reactive cycles, and relate with greater empathy and emotional clarity.
EMOTIONALLY FOCUSED THERAPY (EFT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a structured, attachment-based approach to couples therapy that focuses on emotional connection. It is based on the idea that strong relationships depend on feeling emotionally safe, understood, and supported by one’s partner. When this sense of security is disrupted, couples often fall into repetitive patterns of conflict, withdrawal, or disconnection.
In EFT, therapy focuses on identifying these negative interaction patterns and the underlying emotions that drive them. Partners are guided to express emotions such as fear, hurt, or longing in a way that promotes understanding rather than conflict. Over time, this process helps couples strengthen emotional bonds, improve communication, and respond to each other with greater care and responsiveness.
