Couples therapy by Anne-Sophie :

« Behind every complaint lies a deep desire. »

John Gottman

When a couple is struggling, it is not because one partner is wrong and the other is right. More often, it is because both partners are trapped in a way of relating to each other that no longer allows them to truly understand one another. Seeking couples therapy is not about performing an autopsy on your relationship. It is about taking the chance to transform your relationship, and that new relationship will, in turn, have the power
to transform each of you.

You both agree to come to couples therapy together, to talk, to listen, to speak to one another, and to truly hear each other. This means there is already a shared desire and willingness to understand one another, and I am here to support you in that shared commitment.

My role is above all to create the conditions of trust that make genuine dialogue possible, allowing you to talk about yourselves rather than about each other, by expressing your needs and making requests instead of exchanging blame, and above all by focusing on your relationship rather than on either partner. These regular conversations, which draw on each person's strengths, help you discover new ways of living your relationship differently, navigate challenging periods, revitalize or even transform your relationship, or ultimately bring it to an end. A separation (whether temporary or permanent) does not diminish the progress made together during your sessions. On the contrary, it may be a sign that you have gained greater clarity. Couples therapy does not always aim to "save" the relationship. Rather, it offers you a space to better understand yourselves, both individually and together.

In couples therapy, sessions are attended as a couple. However, along the way, at certain stages, there may sometimes be a need for personal space, because some things can be difficult to express in the presence of the other person: either out of fear of causing hurt, fear of disappointing, or because emotions can quickly become overwhelming. I may suggest, or you may request, an individual session that remains part of the shared therapeutic work. These sessions remain strictly within the framework of couples therapy, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of your relational dynamics and supporting the connection and partnership between you.

To go further, I invite you to read my article on couples therapy.

 Family Therapy by Anne-Sophie :

The therapist helps the family discover resources that they never knew they possessed.

Salvador Minuchin, Families and family therapy (1974)

Systemic family therapy, rooted in the Palo Alto model, considers that an individual’s difficulties are embedded within a broader relational context. Rather than looking for a single cause or someone to blame in other words, trying to determine who is right or wrong it focuses on the interactions between family members. Behaviors, emotions, and communication patterns are observed as elements of a system in which each person influences the others. More often than not, it is the way we deal with our problems that becomes problematic, rather than the issue itself. And the fact that a family is facing difficulties that have turned into a problem does not mean that something is irreparably broken. Families are full of creativity and resourcefulness!

I meet with the family members who choose to take part in order to express themselves and share how they experience things within the family. Sessions can take place individually, as a couple, with three people… every family story is unique, and I adapt to the context and to the needs that can be expressed.

In families, there are often several narratives of the same situation. Each person tells the story in their own way, based on what they see, hear, sense, and feel. All narratives are enlightening and valuable.

My work as a therapist is to try to connect these narratives in service of what the family is seeking to transform.

I help the family to : 

• • understand the dynamics that maintain the problem (the vicious cycles)
  • to experiment with new ways of relating to one another, because changing a relationship means opening up the possibility of a new story
  • to nurture communication, which is one of the ways a relationship is expressed. Often, small adjustments in the way we communicate are enough for new possibilities to emerge.