Couples Therapy at Arms Open Counselling

We combine two of the most trusted, research‑supported approaches to relationship therapy: The Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Together, they help couples strengthen communication, deepen emotional connection, and build relationships that feel secure and fulfilling.

The Gottman Method

Grounded in decades of research by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, this approach focuses on the core foundations of a healthy relationship.

Friendship & Fondness

Rebuilding appreciation and admiration

Strengthening the emotional bond

Conflict Management

Replacing negative cycles with healthier communication

Learning tools to navigate disagreements constructively

Shared Meaning

Creating rituals, goals, and values that bring purpose

Building a sense of “we” that feels intentional and supportive

Couples engage in guided exercises that help repair past hurts, improve communication, and create lasting positive patterns.

Our Approach

At Arms Open Counselling, we believe every relationship has the potential to grow, heal, and thrive. Through a balance of practical strategies and deeper emotional exploration, couples can rebuild trust, rediscover connection, and create a shared vision for the future.

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for Couples
Relationships are built on connection, trust, and emotional safety. When couples experience conflict, distance, or repeated cycles of misunderstanding, it’s often not just about the surface issues—it’s about deeper needs for love, security, and belonging. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach that helps couples identify these underlying patterns and rebuild stronger, healthier connections.

The Challenges Couples Often Face
Many partners come to counselling feeling:

Stuck in the same arguments that never seem to resolve

Disconnected, lonely, or emotionally distant from one another

Hurt by criticism, defensiveness, or unresolved conflicts

Unsure how to express their needs without pushing their partner away

Afraid that the relationship might not recover from pain, betrayal, or years of strain

These struggles can leave couples feeling exhausted and discouraged, even if they still love each other deeply.

How EFT Helps Couples Reconnect
EFT is grounded in attachment science—the understanding that humans are wired for connection. In therapy, couples learn to recognize and interrupt negative cycles, while creating new ways of reaching for each other with openness and vulnerability. Through EFT, couples can:

Better understand their emotional needs and learn how to share them with their partner

Reduce conflict by recognizing and breaking patterns that keep them stuck

Heal emotional wounds and rebuild trust after hurt or betrayal

Develop more empathy, compassion, and responsiveness toward one another

Strengthen both emotional intimacy and physical closeness

Our Approach at Arms Open Counselling
At Arms Open Counselling, we use EFT to guide couples through a safe, supportive process of reconnection. Both partners are encouraged to engage openly and honestly, exploring not just surface disagreements but the deeper feelings and fears that drive them. This process often leads to profound changes—helping couples feel heard, valued, and more securely connected.

EFT is one of the most effective approaches to couples therapy, with research showing high rates of success in improving relationship satisfaction and reducing distress. With willingness and commitment, couples can use EFT to transform their relationship into a place of safety, closeness, and enduring love

How the Gottman Method and EFT Work Together

Blending these approaches gives couples both practical skills and emotional insight, helping them:

Increase intimacy and friendship

Strengthen emotional closeness

Heal from old wounds and patterns

Work together as a united team

This combination supports both the “how” of communication and the “why” behind emotional reactions, creating meaningful and lasting change.

Intimacy & Sex Therapy
Intimacy is about more than physical closeness—it’s about feeling safe, connected, and understood in a relationship. When sexual challenges arise, they can affect other parts of life, leaving couples feeling distant, discouraged, or unsure how to reconnect. Intimacy therapy is designed to help individuals and couples move through these challenges and rediscover both emotional closeness and physical connection.

The Challenges Clients Often Face
People often come to sex therapy feeling:

Disconnected from their partner and longing for closeness

Frustrated by difficulties with arousal, orgasm, or erectile function

Struggling with low libido or mismatched levels of desire

Unsure how to talk about sexual needs, boundaries, or past hurts

Carrying the weight of sexual trauma, shame, or past negative experiences

These challenges can affect not only sexual satisfaction but also self-esteem, emotional intimacy, and the overall health of a relationship.

How We Can Help
At Arms Open Counselling, our trained sex therapist provides a safe, supportive, and confidential space where concerns around intimacy and sexual health can be openly explored without judgment. Together, we can:

Improve communication so couples can express needs and desires more openly

Explore both emotional and physical barriers to intimacy

Provide education and practical strategies to enhance sexual function and satisfaction

Support healing from sexual trauma and rebuilding trust and safety

Help couples strengthen both physical closeness and emotional connection

Sex therapy may include talk therapy, education, and guided exercises designed to foster healthier intimacy and a more fulfilling connection. It is beneficial for individuals and couples of all genders and sexual orientations.

At its heart, intimacy therapy is not only about improving sexual function—it’s about restoring the sense of closeness, safety, and connection that makes relationships thrive