Couples
Relationship and couple difficulties
Working with couples and individuals on recurring arguments, breakdowns in communication, trust issues and feeling lonely within a relationship.
- Recurring conflicts
- Communication and intimacy
- Trust and attachment
Arguments in relationships often look like small things on the surface: a message that arrives late, chores that aren't shared, a look. Yet underneath these arguments there are usually unmet emotional needs: to be seen, to matter, to feel safe.
What do we work on?
- Having the same argument over and over about different things
- Not being able to talk, feeling disconnected or “lonely under the same roof”
- Broken trust and jealousy
- Disagreements about parenting
- Difficulties before or after a decision to separate
How do couple sessions work?
The first sessions are usually held together; when needed, separate sessions with each partner are also planned. In sessions we don't try to work out who is right, but to understand the cycle that keeps repeating between you. Seeing how each of your schemas (such as fear of abandonment or a sense of defectiveness) meet in the relationship makes it easier to be more understanding towards each other.
Individual work
Even if your partner doesn't want to take part in therapy, you can work individually on your own part in the relationship. Change in your own patterns often changes the dynamic of the relationship too.
Frequently asked questions
What can I do if my partner doesn't want to come?
You can start with individual sessions. Understanding what you're going through in the relationship and your own reactions also helps clarify your decisions about it.
This page was written by Zeynep Hilal Çelik and last reviewed on 27 October 2026.
