Couples Counselling
Build intimacy, trust and learn to communicate more effectively. Don’t let more time pass before seeking help.
strengthen your connection
Relationships can be beautiful, but they can also face challenges and obstacles along the way. If you’re feeling stuck, disconnected, or overwhelmed in your relationship, couples therapy offers a guiding light toward healing and growth.
%
Only 19% of couples seek help from a therapist when experiencing conflict
Most couples wait an average of 6 years before seeking professional help
%
Over 70% of couples who do seek help report lasting changes in their marriage
The Gottman Method
The Gottman Method Couples Therapy is based on Dr. John Gottman’s research that began in the 70’s and continues to this day. The research is focused on what makes relationships succeed or fail. This method is designed to help teach specific tools to deepen friendship and intimacy in your relationship. To help you productively manage conflicts, you will be given methods to manage “resolvable problems” and dialogue about “gridlocked” or (perpetual) issues. We will also work together to help you appreciate your relationship’s strengths and to gently navigate through its vulnerabilities.
I am trained in Level 2 of the Gottman Method and am a certified Gottman Connect Clinician. I’m passionate about helping couples reconnect and reignite their relationships.
What is the Gottman Method process?
The Gottman Method is a trusted and proven approach to couples therapy, developed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, world-renowned relationship experts. Backed by over four decades of research, this method provides couples with the tools and insights needed to nurture a loving, supportive, and resilient partnership.
What to expect in the first session
In this session we will talk about what brings you and your partner into therapy, the history of your relationship, areas of concern, and what conflict looks like in your relationship. At the end of this session, if both of you decide to continue with therapy then I will send out the online assessments for you to do at home individually. This first session is 90 minutes in length.
Individual Sessions
Following the first session we will complete two individual sessions; one with each of you. The purpose is to learn each of your personal histories and to give each of you an opportunity to share thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.
Treatment Plan
In this session, I will share my findings, provide psychoeducation and give my recommendation for treatment. We will also identify and mutually agree on treatment goals here. Following this session we will work at your pace, often meeting once every 1 to 2 weeks, whichever you prefer, to achieve the treatment goals we established. This phase can last anywhere from 6 sessions or longer depending on your needs.
Outcome Evaluation Phase
In the outcome-evaluation phase, as per the Gottman Method, four follow-up sessions are planned: one after six months, one after twelve months, one after eighteen months, and one after two years. These sessions have been shown through research to significantly decrease the changes of relapse into previous, unhelpful patterns. In addition, commitment to providing the best therapy possible requires ongoing evaluation of methods used and client progress. The purpose of these follow-up sessions then will be to fine-tune any of your relationship skills if needed, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy received.
Contact
hannah@knowncounselling.ca
70 Sydney St. Charlottetown, PEI