Relationship/Couples Counselling
Sheridan Mason practices relationship counselling under the Gottman Relationship Model which is based on over 40 years of research. Sheridan focuses on the relationship and how to repair by:
- Active Listening Skills
- Communication – how to deescalate arguments
- Meeting our love wants and needs.
- Understanding your partner’s inner world, history, worries, and joys and they understand yours.
- Expressing appreciation and respect to maintain a positive view of the partner.
- Responding to small, everyday issues without arguments
- Manage Conflict: Using gentle startup, repairing, and compromising rather than avoiding issues.
- Make Life Dreams Come True
- Create Shared Meaning
- Trust & Commitment: The two pillars that hold up the entire house
The “Four Horsemen” of the Apocalypse
Gottman identified four communication styles that predict divorce or severe relationship breakdown. The method provides “antidotes” to these.
- Criticism
- Contempt
- Defensiveness
- Stonewalling
In the assessment sessions 1 and 2 we will talk about the history of the relationship, areas of conflict, expectations of relationship.
Individual sessions with Sheridan might be helpful which gives you an opportunity to share thoughts, feelings and perceptions.
There are exercises to do between sessions.
Clients in couple therapy under the Gottman model are urged to take responsibility for the problems and do something about it. Every relationship has the potential of being heaven or hell. In treatment we seek to increase the attractive force of the positive steady state and decrease the negativity in conflict. We will work through each goal together; we will do the hard work of your relationship problems during therapy and there are exercises to do between sessions.
Each session is for 50 minutes and costs $300 per session