Calgary Family & Relationship Psychologist
Relationship Issues
We are profoundly social creatures and share the fundamental need to belong and be loved. Relationships are one of the most important parts of our lives. A great deal of our thoughts, emotions and behaviours are motivated by our fundamental need for belonging. Our attachments with others impact all aspects of our emotional, psychological and physical well-being. Satisfying relationships are a strong indicator of life satisfaction, physical health, life expectancy and overall well-being.
Relationships can also be difficult, complicated and destructive. It is natural to have doubts and struggle with issues related to trust, intimacy, communication, finances, friends and child-rearing. Maybe you’re feeling disconnected from your partner and don’t know where to start. The aim of individual relationship counselling is to help you understand what is getting in the way of meaningful, deep connections, and help you develop skills to build healthy, sustainable relationships. The focus is on helping you navigate where you want to go with a specific relationship and how to develop the necessary skills to get there.
Are you ready to create the relationship you want?
How Therapy Can Help
Relationship counselling is a way for you to take a closer look at yourself and your part in relationships. Sessions aim to help you gain clarity about your role in relationships and uncover any unhelpful beliefs or behaviors that may be holding you back from your ideal relationship. I can help you develop skills to connect more deeply, improve communication, set boundaries, engage in productive conflict, manage your emotions and reactions, and achieve goals unique to your relationship. The focus is on defining the type of relationship you want, who you want to be in the relationship, and how best to get there.
I help people in all sorts of situations, whether you’re in a new relationship, a long-term relationship, thinking about ending a relationship, ending a relationship, having difficulty sustaining friendships or relationships, or not in a relationship at all. Whatever the cause, I provide a warm, safe, confidential space to clarify and manage your relationship issues.
Other areas of focus include how to get along with work colleagues, parents or siblings, how to heal broken family ties, how to navigate blended families, or how to improve your relationship with your children.
Separation and Divorce
Separation and divorce can be one of the most emotionally disruptive events of your life and can have a profound effect on psychological well being. The end of a significant relationship can trigger a flood of painful and unsettling thoughts and emotions, including sadness, loneliness, guilt, shame, frustration, fear, insecurity, anger and resentment, to name a few. The roller coaster of emotions during a break up can impact your ability to think clearly, make rational decisions, sleep, work and parent effectively.
How Therapy Can Help
I can help you navigate your divorce, break up or separation with mindfulness, grace and compassion. I can help you work through difficult emotions, such as grief, betrayal, failure, sadness, guilt and anger, and help with issues related to parenting/ co-parenting. You will learn how to process difficult emotions and recover from the loss of your relationship. I will help you learn to approach your divorce, break up or separation with healthy detachment, move forward with equanimity, and open yourself to new journeys and possibilities.
I can see you in-person at my Calgary office, or online from anywhere in Alberta.