Couples Therapy

Couples therapy is designed to assist partners in navigating challenges, enhancing understanding, and fostering healthier communication patterns, aiming to strengthen the relationship.

Recurrent arguments or challenges: Couples therapy provides tools to navigate hardships together.

Affairs: Couples therapy supports partners grappling with the aftermath of affairs, aiding in rebuilding trust and addressing emotional wounds.

Engaged couples: Couples therapy can help you prepare for marriage by fostering understanding, communication, and conflict resolution skills essential for a strong foundation.

Anyone looking to reinvigorate or learn new skills for their relationship

Julia uses Gottman couples counselling approach. The Gottman method of couples therapy is based on Dr. John Gottman‘s research that began in the 1970s and continues to this day. The research has focused on what makes relationship successful or fail. From this research, Dr. John and Julie Gottman have created a method of therapy that emphasizes a ‘nuts and bolts’ approach to improving client relationships.

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 issues. We will also work together to help you appreciate your relationship strength, and to gently navigate through its full vulnerabilities.

You can find more about Gottman here.

She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, Internal Family Systems therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and more.

Gottman method Couples Therapy consists of five parts:

1. Assessment

2. Treatment

3. Phasing out of therapy

4. Termination

5. Outcome evaluation

The assessment phase consists of written materials, areas of concern, and goal setting. Assessments are completed together and individually to give you each an opportunity to share thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.

Follow-up sessions are largely completed together as a couple, however Julia may recommend individual sessions, or exercises to practice between sessions.

Assessment and Planning is three parts:

1. Conjoined assessment (70 mins)

During this initial intake, we welcome the couple and review the basics of couples therapy in order to get consent for treatment.

We conduct a history taking from the joint perspective of the couple and conduct a few clinical assessments including an assessment of conflict style.

We then prepare the couple for the next session by understanding how the individual sessions will work.

The couple is sent home with questionnaires that must be completed prior to the next booked session in order to have fulsome discussion for individual sessions. Questions are answered through an external online provider at a cost of 39$ per person. A report is generated and sent to the therapist who will review separately.

2. Individuals assessment (30 mins per person)

This appointment will be split into two 30 minute sessions and these sessions can be booked at the same time, or separately based on what works best for the clients.

In these sessions, the therapist reviews the individuals and their unique factors that might contribute to therapy.

3. Feedback and game plan (70 minutes)

This appointment is where the therapist and partners share findings and provide feedback

Goals are created and interventions are recommended.

A game plan is agreed upon using the interventions and goals that were collaborated on by the couple through support of the therapist

Follow up is as needed in 50-minute appointments. We recommend at least one follow up appointment.

The prices per session are as follows:

Conjoined assessment: $250, 70 minutes

Individual assessments: $125, 30 minutes per person

Feedback and game plan: $250, 70 minutes

Follow up appointments: $175, 50 minutes.

Julia is a Nurse Practitioner, and her services are covered by many insurance plans under Nurse Psychotherapy. Every plan is different, so we encourage you contact your private insurance carrier for additional questions about billing.