Couples Counseling
@Nina Alma
Do you feel alone and uncared for in you relationship?
Do you feel you losing your connection to your partner?
Is immigration bringing you apart?
Do you avoid bringing up certain topics with your partner because you're afraid of starting a fight?
Do you feel under attack?
Do you have never ending arguments?
Do you feel hunted by your past experiences and not not knowing how to build a different relationship?
Our relationships are our most important resource in life and our best investment. Every study shows that when we feel emotionally connected and safe we are happier and healthier, we are better parents, better professionals, and our children do better emotionally, physically, intellectually and relationally. However, when our relationship is unstable, everything else tends to feel dangerous and cloudy.
Integrating different evidenced-based modalities - Gottman Method; Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT); Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) - I provide a safe environment to help couples with the following:
to identify their protective strategies that might be keeping them out of connection with themselves and with their partner;
to make sense of their protective strategies: i.e. where they came from and how these strategies have good intentions despite destructive outcomes in the present moment;
to learn to reduce their reactivity and develop new skills for speaking, listening and behaving in ways that can foster safer, courageous, and more open-hearted conversations and interactions;
to heal old wounds that might be burdening the relationship;
to build new pathways for safer, mature, differentiated, connecting and functional relationship with them themselves individual and with their partner; or,
to help couples separate with integrity and respect, if that is their aim.
One of my specialities is working with intercultural couples. While the differences may have drawn you to each other in the first place, language, culture, and immigration/expatriation often enters their negative cycle, creates more conflicts and contributes to relationship distress.
I welcome all couples: straight, gay, lesbian, bi or any other configuration. Research tells us that issues facing couples of different sexual identities are, in fact, very similar to heterosexual relationships.
Process wise, we will first meet once or twice together. Then, I meet individually with each of you to get each person’s perspective on the problems, resources and goals. Afterwards, we will meet together again and I will share with you my impressions. Finally, we will decide together whether we are a good match and what the goals of therapy would be.
Reach out to schedule a consultation and begin moving toward a more authentic and fulfilling relationship!
“I highly appreciate and trust Ana as a professional and empathic therapist to guide me through my topics of life. Her good listening skills and precise questions help me to develop my relationship with myself and my surroundings. In the safe space she is creating I can truly be myself, have a better understanding of my emotions and grow further. I can fully recommend everybody to work with Ana for individual as well as couple counseling. ”
“I recently completed a couple’s therapy journey with Ana, and I truly appreciated the experience. From the very first session, she was incredibly supportive and understanding, creating a space where both of us felt heard and valued.
What I particularly liked about Ana’s approach was how she took the time to fully understand our situation before offering guidance. She started by carefully listening to both perspectives, ensuring she had the full picture before transitioning into a more counseling-focused role. Her insights were always thoughtful and practical, and she provided valuable documentation that helped us navigate our challenges.
While our relationship ultimately came to an end, I can confidently say that therapy with Ana made a positive impact. It helped us communicate better, understand each other more deeply, and approach difficult conversations with more clarity and respect.
The sessions were always conducted in a safe, comfortable environment, and Ana was highly attentive to creating a space where openness and honesty could thrive. Her professionalism and empathy made a real difference.
I wholeheartedly recommend Ana to any couple looking for support. Whether you’re trying to strengthen your bond or work through tough issues, she offers a level of guidance that is both insightful and compassionate. ”