top of page
hands-63743_640.jpg

Relationship Therapy

Relationship therapy, more commonly known as couples therapy, helps people in relationships improve communication, resolve conflict, and reconnect emotionally. It’s not just for couples in crisis—it can also be a proactive way to strengthen a healthy relationship. I work from the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy. The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy, developed by Dr. Ellyn Bader and Dr. Peter Pearson, is a widely respected framework that views relationships as evolving over time through predictable developmental stages—much like individual psychological development.

This inclusive and sex positive model helps couples understand that many conflicts aren't signs of failure but normal parts of growth in a long-term relationship, regardless of the relationship structure.

Core Ideas:

  • Just as individuals develop over time, relationships also progress through stages. Conflict often arises when partners are at different developmental stages, or when they get "stuck" and can't move forward together.

  • The therapist’s role is to help each partner grow individually and support the development of the relationship as a whole. This is achieved by focusing on goals such as: establishing emotional connection and trust; developing emotional regulation and better communication while maintaining closeness; maintaining connection while developing individuality and autonomy; building a new, mature intimacy based on truth, not fantasy; and sustaining deep intimacy, respect, and personal growth.

​​

Key aspects of the model

​

  • Growth-Oriented: Focuses on personal and relational growth, not just symptom relief.

  • Developmentally Appropriate Interventions: The therapist uses different tools depending on the couple’s stage.

  • Differentiation is Central: Learning to stay connected while holding onto your identity is the most crucial skill.

​​

Common Issues

​

  • Feeling disconnected or “stuck”

  • Power struggles

  • Fear of intimacy or loss of self

  • Unresolved resentment

  • Emotional reactivity

  • Infidelity (often a result of failed differentiation)

 

Why it is useful?

​

  • Normalizes conflict as part of growth.

  • Encourages personal responsibility instead of blame.

  • Builds deeper emotional and psychological maturity with partners.

  • Helps couples move from dependency → independence → interdependence.

  • Applies to all forms of interpersonal relationships, including family, friends, and professional connections.

bottom of page