Whether the goal of coming into couples therapy is for a “tune-up,” coping with a transitional time, coping with a relational crisis, or determining the future of the relationship, Dr. Tania has the experience and possesses the care and compassion to help.
Dr. Tania is Gottman Method Couples Therapy Levels 1 and 2 trained, the most comprehensive, evidence-based and effective therapy available for relationship improvement today. Based on over five decades of research in relationship psychology, the Gottman Method utilizes structured and solution-focused interventions.
Learn the Art and Science of Love with Dr. Tania.
Brief and longer-term therapy is available.
Take a science-based approach to your relationship health.
Dr. Tania’s treatment approach to couples therapy represents an integration of interventions and techniques form the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Relational-Cultural Psychotherapy, Bowen’s Family Systems Theory and Attachment Theory as well as evidence-based approaches including Trauma-Informed Care, and Internal Family Systems amongst others.
Dr. Tania welcomes all types of couples and respects how partners define their unique relationship.
Couples counseling can be beneficial for a wide continuum of concerns/difficulties, ranging from couples/partners who are wanting to simply improve and optimize their relationships to those who are in a serious crisis and feel close to the breaking point. Couples often seek my help when they are are encountering roadblocks or lacking intimacy— At times, they may be repeating the same destructive patterns, engaging in the same arguments and processes, experiencing a rupture of trust or infidelity, lacking of understanding or compassion, engage in disagreements about priorities, having disparate needs for emotional closeness, experiencing feelings of neglect or overwhelm, or sensing a general relationship malaise. Other common difficulties include sexual intimacy, becoming parents or parenting dilemmas, an emotional or sexual affair, negotiating life’s trials ranging from finances to in-law relationships, and conscious uncoupling in separation or divorce.
By working with Dr. Tania, couples gain insights into their relational dynamics, core relational themes which we are rooted in both their shared journey as well as their families of origin. Dr. Tania recommends proven-effective strategies to improve relational dynamics, leading the couple to experience new ways of being and relating to one another both inside and out of the therapeutic room.
Enhance your Relationships by Learning the Art and Science of Love.
An in-depth analysis of your relationship health.
Dr. Tania is trained to help couples build stronger relationships overall and healthier ways to cope with issues as they arise.
Could your relationship benefit from some fine-tuning or are you experiencing a major relationship overhaul?
Couples therapy can help partners work together to improve communication, resolve painful family issues, and maintain a well-functioning and satisfying partnership. It is common to feel the strains of daily living on your relationship, specifically with the passage of time. This is especially evident when communication problems mount, making it difficult to see one another’s perspective or to find ways of solving problems effectively together. Couples therapy provides a safe forum for openly speaking about concerns and differences, to learn to understand and appreciate the other’s perspectives and to clarify each partner’s needs and how they may be more readily met. Couples therapy also promotes the learning of new skills to enhance relationships enabling partners to learn new ways of communicating, ultimately enhancing the relationship to function more smoothly and as a team.
Are you struggling in your current relationship/partnership?
Fighting and Arguing?
Misunderstandings?
Poor communication?
Lack of emotional intimacy?
Emotional disconnection?
Difficulty dividing household responsibilities?
Feeling as though you are “growing apart” and not feeling satisfied?
Learn to Listen and Understand One Another
The good news is that couples therapy and marriage counseling is highly effective. Research suggests that 70-75% of couples successfully meet their goals in couples counseling and are overwhelmingly inoculated against relapse when using the research-based method of the Gottman approach, of which Dr. Tania has received as post-graduate training in.
Dr. Tania enjoys teaching couples practical ways to:
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- Incorporate effective communicate
- Deepen their emotional connection
- Replace negative conflict patterns with positive interactions
- Increase intimacy, respect, and affection
- Repair past hurts
- Rebuild trust
- Recover from affairs or infidelity
- Adjust to parenthood
- Create shared goals and values
Common relationship issues that may be addressed in therapy include:
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- Frequent conflict and arguments
- Poor communication
- Specific problems such as sexual difficulties, infidelity, money, and parenting
- Emotionally distanced couples on the verge of separation
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Dr. Tania utilizes the Gottman Method as the foundation for both marital and premarital couples. The Gottman Method is an approach to couples therapy that includes a thorough assessment (see below) of the couple’s relationship and integrates research-based interventions based on the Sound Relationship House Theory. The goals of Gottman Method Couples Therapy are to disarm conflicting verbal communication, increase intimacy, respect, and affection, remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding within the context of the relationship.
Couples who begin the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy participate in a two-phase assessment and intervention approach.
Phase 1: Relationship Assessment
The first phase of the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy involves the assessment of the relationship. This phase consists of four appointments: An initial interview with the couple, two individual interviews (one with each partner), and a couple’s feedback session.
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- Initial Couples Interview (90 min.) includes Analysis of the Relationship Checkup Questionnaires
We will talk about the history of your relationship, areas of concerns, and your goals for treatment.
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- Individual interview with Each Partner (60 min./75 min.)
I will meet with you individually to learn each of your personal histories and to give each of you an opportunity to share thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. Our individual time together will enable me to learn more about the couple’s core issues from both the individual and couple’s perspectives, carefully assessing each person’s thoughts, feelings, wishes, desires, fears, and emotional needs.
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- Couple’s Relationship Feedback Session and Treatment Planning (90 min.)
We will discuss your relationship strengths, and your areas of concern. I will also incorporate the results of your interviews into our discussion, and I will share with you my recommendations for treatment and work to define mutually agreed upon goals for your therapy.
Phase 2: Intervention
The intervention phase begins after the assessment. It involves structured, skills-based interventions to strengthen and repair a couple’s friendship, appreciation, intimacy, communication, conflict management, commitment and trust.
The Gottman Method is designed to support couples across all economic, racial, sexual orientation, and cultural sectors. Outcome research has also shown Gottman Method Couples Therapy to be effective for treating same-sex relationships.
LAYING A ROCK SOLID FOUNDATION
Premarital counseling is a short-term approach to laying the foundation to a lasting healthy relationship. Dr. Tania will provide you with detailed feedback about your relationship strengths and how to use the coping skills of the healthiest couples to get through the rough patches.
Identifying your partner’s needs, patterns of love, and expectations early on prevents unnecessary conflict later. This also provides the necessary building blocks on which you can construct the relationship of your own design.
We will endeavor to understand your relationship, including its strengths and its problematic patterns. We will also help you to more effectively communicate, to free yourselves of old resentments and enjoy more closeness and affection together.
