Couples & Marriage Counselling
Registered Psychologist | Psychotherapist
Welcome
Dr. Donna Reist, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Couples come together for love and connection …
We all wish to live authentically, being ourselves, showing who we are – the good and the bad. We hope for love, acceptance and understanding from the other.
How is it that such good intentions can be so difficult to actualize?
An inability to communicate, fear, problems with trust, disappointment and reactive emotions, are just a few of the dynamics that can weaken good intentions and deepen defensiveness and disengagement. Where there was once peace, there may be repeated conflict; where there was warmth & desire, there may be caution and avoidance; where there was once a future together, there may be doubt and fear.
Every couple has challenges to overcome. It may be that you need to learn new relationship, intimacy and/or problem solving skills, or maybe you are repeating relationship patterns you learned from your parents. Are alcohol or drugs interfering or is financial stress and money management a key area of conflict? Is your lifestyle balanced and sustainable?
For over 20 years I have worked with couples who are interested in exploring their behaviour, emotions and the root cause of the challenges they are facing. I work to build listening and empathy skills in a safe environment. Building new methods of communication and understanding is the ground work for problem solving and the way in which forging renewed connection and a new vision is made possible.
If you, or you and your partner, would like to discuss the benefits of marriage counselling or couples therapy, you are welcome to give me a call.